Trump's Makeup-Covered Hands and Droopy Face at 9/11 Event Spark Fresh 'He's Covering Something Up' Fears

Donald Trump's latest public appearances have prompted renewed attention to his health. At a 9/11 memorial on 11 September, the right side of his face appeared to droop as he sat at the Pentagon, where he also appeared to struggle to stay awake. Two days later, photos from the Amgen Irish Open appeared to show makeup covering discolouration on his right hand.

The White House has not publicly said that Trump's apparent facial drooping or recent hand discolouration is linked to a new medical condition. After speculation that Trump had fallen asleep during the 11 September ceremony at the Pentagon, the White House rejected the claim, saying he was 'solemnly listening and remembering' the victims and heroic first responders as the names of those killed at the Pentagon were read.

Same Side, Same Questions.

Professor Bruce Davidson, a physician and professor at Washington State University's Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, told The Court of History podcast that he believed there was 'evidence' supporting his conclusion that Trump had suffered a stroke.

'I think his stroke was on the left side of the brain, which controls the right side of the body,' he said. 'I think the stroke was six months ago or more, earlier in 2025. There are videos of him shuffling his feet, which is not what we'd seen previously when he was striding on the golf course. We've seen him holding his right hand cradled in his left. Earlier in 2025, he was garbling words, which he hadn't done before and which he's improved upon more recently.'

Davidson also pointed to what he described as 'marked episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness,' which he referred to as hypersomnolence and said can occur in people who have experienced strokes.

Writing later for the Daily Beast, Davidson stated, 'To the trained, careful observer, it is evident that President Donald Trump had a stroke.' Davidson's conclusion was based on his interpretation of publicly available video and photographs, rather than a direct examination of Trump or access to his medical records or diagnostic testing.

Makeup-Covered Hand Fuels Fresh Health Speculation

Two days after the Pentagon ceremony, Trump appeared at the Amgen Irish Open at his Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Ireland, Doonbeg. Photos appeared to show a beige substance resembling makeup covering much of his right hand, while reddish-purple discoloration remained visible around parts of the area. The hand also appeared swollen in some images.

The appearance has renewed questions online about the cause of the discoloration and why makeup appeared to be covering the hand. Trump's physician addressed earlier hand bruising in a 17 July 2025 medical memorandum, saying the minor bruising was consistent with soft-tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and aspirin use.

The memorandum also reported chronic venous insufficiency, a condition affecting blood flow in the veins of the legs. However, it said that testing found no evidence of deep vein thrombosis, arterial disease, or heart failure.

Online Speculation Surges Again

Trump's latest appearances quickly triggered another round of online debate. Commentator Jo Carducci questioned whether White House pool reporters would ask Trump about his appearance, writing on X: 'Will the WH pool reporters ask him about this or nah?'

Washington-based pulmonary and critical care physician Dr. Nick Mark reacted more directly to an image of Trump, writing, 'That's a facial droop.'