People call Trump 'impressively infirm' as pic of his mysterious bruise goes viral

A recent photo of President Donald Trump’s bruised right hand has sparked online speculation. The bruise, a distinctively blue area covering most of the back of his hand, was visible during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.^[]

On Reddit, some users suggested the bruise could be from an IV port, a common occurrence in patients receiving intravenous fluids or medications.^[] Others speculated that the discoloration could be a result of age-related skin fragility, a harmless but noticeable condition common in older adults. But could there be more to the story?

Benign medical explanations don’t satisfy

While a firm handshake might be enough to cause some minor bruising—especially in older adults with thinner skin—physicians aren’t convinced. “I see a lot of patients who are businessmen, and I've never really seen them getting bruising from too much handshaking,” said Dr. Neal Patel, a primary care physician at Providence St. Joseph Hospital.^[] “I guess it's possible, but that would really not be on my list of ideas of what causes it.”

Other potential sources of Trump’s bruise include:

• IV or blood draw bruising: Bruising around the dorsum of the hand is a typical side effect of IV catheter insertion or a difficult blood draw, particularly if there’s excessive movement or anticoagulant use.

• Actinic purpura: Often seen in elderly patients, this condition leads to purple bruises on sun-exposed areas due to weakened blood vessels.

• Anticoagulant use: If Trump is on any blood thinners, even minor trauma could result in more pronounced bruising.

• Other vascular or hematologic conditions: While unlikely, more serious conditions such as platelet disorders or vasculitis could contribute to excessive bruising.

Of course, a bruise on a 78-year-old man isn’t inherently suspicious. But the visibility of such an injury on a public figure inevitably raises questions. Transparency about health has always been a point of interest, especially for political figures. While the White House’s explanation of excessive handshaking is reasonable, medical professionals know that a bruise on this part of the body is more commonly associated with IV access or blood draws.

Broader conversation on health transparency

Without official medical details, discussions like these highlight how medical professionals approach visible health clues and balance curiosity with the understanding that, sometimes, a bruise is just a bruise.

What’s your take? Could a handshake really cause this level of bruising, or does an IV port seem more plausible?