White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt continues to defend President Donald Trump’s health amid mounting concerns over visible bruises and makeup coverage on both of his hands, with new markings appearing during recent public appearances.
A new bruise emerged on Trump’s left hand during a weekend golf outing with former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia on August 24, 2025. The mark was captured in an Instagram video shared by Clemens’ son, Kacy, showing the 79-year-old president playing golf with the baseball legend.
When asked for comment about the new bruise, Leavitt provided a familiar explanation to HuffPost: “President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history.”
This response mirrors Leavitt’s previous explanations when a persistent bruise was first spotted on Trump’s right hand in February 2025. However, the White House later offered a more detailed medical explanation, indicating that soft-tissue irritation resulted from frequent handshaking and the aspirin Trump takes for his chronic venous insufficiency.
The president’s right hand has been repeatedly spotted with heavy makeup coverage attempting to conceal a large bruise. Most recently, this poorly matched concealer was visible in a birthday photo for Leavitt shared by the Trump War Room on August 24, celebrating her 28th birthday. The thick, pale patch of makeup was clearly visible even from several feet away in the White House corridor photograph.
Trump has been photographed with the right hand bruise during multiple appearances throughout 2025, including in February, April, June, July, and August. During an August 22 press appearance, he took the additional step of using his left hand to cover his right hand while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, apparently attempting to shield the concerning patch of makeup from view.
The White House revealed Trump’s diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency only after photos of his bruised hands and swollen ankles sparked health concerns. This condition, common in men over 70, occurs when weakened vein valves prevent blood from circulating properly in the legs, resulting in the type of ankle swelling that Trump has also been attempting to hide in public appearances.
Leavitt suggested that Trump’s frequent aspirin intake, which thins the blood and is used to treat his chronic venous insufficiency, could contribute to the bruising. The condition can cause swelling in the lower limbs when the legs fail to pump blood effectively to the heart.
The administration has taken unusual measures to conceal Trump’s health issues during official meetings. On August 18, Trump sat behind the Resolute Desk while meeting with European leaders rather than using the usual spot in front of the fireplace. During his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the same day, the White House released a photo with a model of Air Force One strategically positioned to block view of the president’s ankles.
The new left hand bruise appeared smaller than the extensive marking covering the top of Trump’s right hand, and he did not appear to have applied makeup to cover this newer mark during his golf appearance.
Critics have questioned the handshaking explanation for the left hand bruise, noting that discoloration on the back of the hand would be more difficult to attribute to typical greeting interactions. Despite this, Leavitt maintained her standard response about Trump’s extensive public engagement.
Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann recently criticized Leavitt’s explanations during his “Countdown” podcast, describing her as “belligerent, condescending and aggressively stupid.” Olbermann pointed to her history of mispronunciations and what he characterized as questionable justifications for Trump’s condition.
The 27-year-old press secretary, who became the youngest person to hold the position when she assumed the role in January 2025, has faced increasing scrutiny over her handling of questions about Trump’s health. She previously served as assistant press secretary during Trump’s first administration from 2019 to 2021.
Leavitt has consistently defended the administration’s transparency while criticizing media coverage of Trump’s health concerns. She has argued that traditional media outlets unfairly scrutinize the president’s condition and characterized such coverage as part of broader media bias against the administration.
The ongoing health questions come as Trump, who is on course to become the oldest sitting president in United States history, continues his demanding schedule of public appearances and diplomatic meetings.
