Concerns about Donald Trump’s health resurfaced yesterday after viewers noticed a discolouration on his hand during the State of the Union address. The 79-year-old President seemed to partially conceal the mark with make-up while delivering the speech.
The White House has previously downplayed these worries, explaining that the discoloration is likely linked to frequent handshakes and his use of aspirin, a blood-thinning medication. Similar marks first gained widespread attention last year after repeated sightings during public events. Officials have also confirmed that Trump was diagnosed in July with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition that affects blood flow from the legs back to the heart. While the President has occasionally been seen with swollen ankles, none were visible during the televised address. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal in January, Trump explained that he takes aspirin to thin his blood.
A White House spokesperson highlighted that the President meets large numbers of Americans every day and frequently shakes hands with the public. Images of his hand quickly circulated on social media, with some users commenting humorously about the situation and drawing comparisons to past discussions about Joe Biden’s health.
Trump has consistently dismissed concerns about his wellbeing, noting that he has “aced” cognitive tests. Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that Trump interacts with more Americans daily than any previous president, describing his commitment to public engagement as “unwavering.”
The President has recently faced criticism for his speeches, such as during a White House ceremony for “Angel Families,” where relatives of victims killed by undocumented migrants were honored. Some commentators described his address as “rambling,” noting that he moved abruptly between topics, from New York’s mayor to a snowstorm, and even spoke personally to a woman in the audience about her eyesight.
Trump was also photographed recently during an appearance for Josh Pate’s College Football Show, with images showing his ankles exposed. Social media users raised concerns about swelling, which the White House attributes to CVI a common, age-related, non-life-threatening circulatory condition in which leg veins struggle to return blood to the heart, causing fluid buildup in the lower limbs.
BREAKING: Donald Trump’s hand appeared visibly discolored during the State of the Union.
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) February 25, 2026
Cue the same people who scream “Biden’s health” suddenly discovering the value of privacy.
Funny how that works. pic.twitter.com/F1tiQRramB
The President previously drew attention for wearing a single glove in public, which led to speculation online. He later clarified that the bruising resulted from a high-dose aspirin regimen recommended by his doctors.
In January, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a former cardiac physician to Vice President Dick Cheney and now a CNN medical analyst, noted that an image of Trump appearing to doze at his desk could indicate excessive daytime sleepiness and suggested it be medically evaluated.
Despite these observations, the White House maintains that medical assessments show no evidence of serious illness.
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