Sterling, Virginia – On August 23, a new bruise on President Donald Trump’s left hand, spotted during a golf outing at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia, has reignited public and media scrutiny over his health. The dark mark, visible in a video posted to Instagram by Kacy Clemens, son of former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens, mirrors a persistent bruise on Trump’s right hand first noticed in February 2025.
The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, has attributed both bruises to “frequent handshaking,” a claim first made on February 25, when the right-hand bruise emerged during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Amid controversies like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Epstein files, and a contentious D.C. crime crackdown, the unexplained bruises and Trump’s diagnosis of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) are amplifying questions about his physical condition as the 2026 midterms loom.
The New Bruise – A Golf Course Revelation
The fresh bruise was captured in a video titled “A Day on the Course with The President,” posted by Kacy Clemens on August 24, showing Trump overlooking the course alongside Clemens, his son, and the club’s Director of Golf, John O’Leary.
Unlike the right-hand bruise, often concealed with makeup, the left-hand mark was clearly visible, matching the placement of the earlier discoloration. Roger Clemens’ scorecard revealed Trump finished last in the foursome, adding a lighthearted note to the outing but doing little to quell health concerns.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, when pressed by The Daily Beast, did not deny the new bruise, repeating her February 25, explanation: “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. His commitment is unwavering and he proves that every single day.”
This echoes her initial response to the right-hand bruise, first reported by NBC News on February 25, during Trump’s meeting with Macron, when she attributed it to “shaking hands all day every day.” Critics on X, like @dexter_doggie, dismissed the explanation, noting, “That part of your hand wouldn’t even make contact with the other person’s hand,” questioning its plausibility.
Health Concerns and Chronic Venous Insufficiency
The bruises have intensified speculation about Trump’s health, particularly after the White House announced on July 17, that he was diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), a condition causing leg swelling due to poor blood flow.
Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, Trump’s physician, clarified in a July memo that the hand bruises are unrelated to CVI, attributing them to “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” a common cardiovascular medication with bruising as a side effect. However, the lack of direct comment from Barbabella, despite Leavitt’s promise to arrange it, has fueled skepticism.
Trump’s behavior, including awkward hand movements to shield his right hand during an August 22, Oval Office press interaction, has added to concerns.
Posts on X, like @CalltoActivism’s, speculated the bruises could stem from IV diuretics for congestive heart failure, though no evidence supports this. Healthline notes that bruising is common in older adults due to thinner skin and fragile blood vessels, a risk amplified by aspirin, aligning with Barbabella’s explanation but not silencing critics.
Why It Matters
The bruise controversy unfolds against a backdrop of political turmoil. Protests over Trump’s D.C. police federalization, involving “reconfigured” crime stats admitted by Leavitt, have drawn “Free D.C.” chants. The Epstein files, Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison transfer and interview, and the FBI raid on John Bolton’s home after his health comments further stoke perceptions of chaos.
Health concerns are a recurring theme. Alex Jones, Mary Trump, and John Bolton have cited Trump’s “swollen ankles” and “fatigue,” with his August 19 and 22 comments about wanting to “get to heaven” interpreted as mortality fears. These align with critiques of his rambling August 21 AI speech, mocked for claiming “a lot of people don’t know what AI is,” and Gavin Newsom’s trolling campaign, which has gained traction with 325,000 new X followers.
On X, reactions to the bruise are polarized. Supporters like @FactOverFrenzy, defended the handshaking explanation, posting, “Karoline Leavitt already announced back in July that Trump has bruising from daily aspirin intake and frequent handshaking,” while critics like @FindingNimo__ sarcastically noted, “The bruise on the hand they said it’s frequent handshaking.” The debate reflects broader distrust, with @davegreenidge57 speculating about “infusion therapy” and blown veins, though unverified.
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What’s Next?
The persistent bruises and evasive responses risk amplifying health concerns, especially as Trump, at 79, is the oldest president sworn in. The White House’s failure to deliver Barbabella for questioning, despite Leavitt’s July promise, echoes broader transparency issues, like the DHS’s deletion of text messages, labeled a Federal Records Act violation by American Oversight.
GOP infighting, exemplified by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Gaza comments sparking a MAGA backlash, and Steve Bannon’s warnings of midterm losses add pressure. If health concerns escalate—potentially with visible incidents like slurred speech or further physical signs—they could dominate 2026 narratives.
Upcoming events, like Trump’s planned Smithsonian review and tariff rollouts, will test his administration’s ability to shift focus from health and transparency controversies to policy wins.
The bruise saga, first explained as handshaking-related on February 25, shows a persistent challenge: balancing Trump’s public image with growing scrutiny. Whether the White House provides clearer medical disclosures or faces further leaks, like those surrounding Maxwell’s interview, will shape public trust and electoral dynamics.
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