Donald Trump Health Alert: Public Appearances Drop by 39% Amid New Bruise Fears

This week, when President Donald Trump stepped onto the stage in Des Moines, Iowa, he had a clear goal: to promote his economic record from his second term and energise Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The 79-year-old commander-in-chief spoke about 'economic victories' and 'affordability', but a flash of purple on his hand, partly hidden by a thick layer of makeup, drew widespread attention.

Later, the president told reporters that he uses makeup to cover marks like these when they appear, adding that it only takes a few seconds to apply. As he warned the crowd that migrants might 'blow up our shopping centres, blow up our farms, kill people', the visible bruising on his left hand reignited speculation about his physical stamina.

For a leader who has built his political identity on a persona of relentless vitality, the growing frequency of such marks has become a persistent headache for the White House. This scrutiny is further compounded by a diagnosed condition: the White House confirmed in 2025 that the president suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a common age-related issue affecting blood flow that can lead to swelling or discolouration in the hands and ankles.

Medical Scrutiny Intensifies Around Donald Trump

The Iowa appearance follows a similar sighting in Davos, Switzerland, just days earlier at the World Economic Forum. On that occasion, Trump attempted to laugh off the injury while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, claiming he had simply 'clipped' his hand on the corner of a table during a signing ceremony.

'I put a little — what do they call it? — cream on it. But I clipped it,' he insisted. He further joked that the 'Secret Service needs to detain the table' and deport it, even as critics noted that a previous small cut from Attorney General Pam Bondi's ring during a high-five had also caused significant bleeding.

The administration's explanations for these marks have shifted over time, previously attributing bruising on his right hand to the 'rigours' of constant handshaking. However, medical experts have pointed to a more clinical reason: the president's self-disclosed daily regimen of 325 mg of aspirin.

Trump has defended this high dose, which is significantly above what many doctors recommend, stating he wants to prevent 'thick blood pouring through my heart'. Despite his doctor advising that such a dose is unnecessary because he is healthy, Trump admitted he remains 'superstitious' and refuses to take any chances with his cardiovascular health.

'Bruising can be just simply a one-off thing when you bump into something', Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a professor at George Washington University, told CNN. 'Aspirin will make you more prone to bleeding.' While the White House has released statements from the president's physician, Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, asserting that his cardiovascular imaging is 'perfectly normal', the visual evidence of his fragility continues to trend on social media.

A Vanishing Act for Donald Trump in the Second Term?

Beyond the physical marks, a more concerning trend has emerged in the president's public schedule. An analysis by The New York Times reveals that Trump's public appearances have plummeted by 39% compared to the first year of his initial term in 2017.

In that year, he conducted 1,688 official events; in 2025, that number dropped to just 1,029. Furthermore, his second term has been marked by twice-yearly comprehensive medical exams at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a frequency higher than the standard annual physical.

Observers have noted that his workday has also shrunk significantly, with most public-facing events now confined to a five-hour window between noon and 5 p.m. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has maintained that the president's health is 'excellent' and pointed to a 'preventative' MRI as proof of his resilience.

Trump himself claims to have 'aced' every health check-up, though he admitted he regretted disclosing the MRI, as it gave his critics 'ammunition'. He continues to boast about 'perfect scores' on cognitive tests, despite critics pointing to his increasingly cautious gait and slower pace on stairs as evidence of age-related decline.

As the midterm elections approach, Trump has urged his supporters to 'get out and vote', but the questions about his own longevity are unlikely to fade. Whether these bruises are truly minor accidents or symptoms of a more profound slowing down, the 79-year-old president is finding that even the best-applied makeup cannot hide the relentless toll of the most stressful job in the world.