Donald Trump was seen flashing his bruised right hand on Friday, May 22, as he boarded his plane back to Washington D.C. following a speech in New York. While speaking with reporters on the tarmac of Morristown Airport in New Jersey, the 79-year-old president revealed his purple-colored palm.
Trump is often seen covering his bruises with makeup or bandages, but this time he chose to leave it bare for the event. The politician’s discoloration has been linked to frequent handshaking and his daily use of aspirin. He reportedly takes 325 mg of the drug each day to keep his blood thin, although the recommended daily dose for men is between 75 mg and 100 mg.
“I’m a little superstitious,” Trump explained to The Wall Street Journal back in January. “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously stated that the POTUS “has bruises on his hand because he’s constantly working and shaking hands all day every day.”
Last July, the White House disclosed that Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency.
The condition is common in older individuals and makes it difficult for blood to travel back to the heart. As a result, blood pools in the arm and leg veins, leading to significant swelling.
Trump’s swollen cankles have also been a topic of conversation recently. His visibly puffy ankles were seen last month when he met with King Charles for his historic state visit. During a meeting at the Oval Office with the monarch, 77, Trump’s ankles were wrapped in his socks and appeared swollen.
During the same visit, the businessman reportedly used makeup on both of his hands to conceal a dark, purplish discoloration. Trump also told The Wall Street Journal that he isn’t a fan of compression socks for his feet. “I didn’t like them,” he simply stated.
His distended ankles have been spotted on more than one occasion. They were noted during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in October 2025. His swollen feet were even recently seen during a trip to the dentist earlier this month alongside his son, Donald Trump Jr.
“President Trump has tremendous health. He’s a champion-level golfer with the vitality, mental acuity, and energy levels that most young people could not fathom having,” said the spokesperson for the Celebrity Apprentice star at the time.
