President Donald Trump attempted to conceal a prominent dark bruise on his left hand with what looked like heavy makeup during Tuesday's St Patrick's Day meeting at the White House with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin. The 79-year-old leader, speaking to reporters outside alongside press secretary Karoline Leavitt, drew immediate scrutiny over the mark as global tensions simmered.
Trump has faced persistent questions about his physical condition since returning to office last year, with similar large bruises cropping up repeatedly on the backs of his hands. These incidents have fuelled online chatter and expert speculation, especially amid his packed schedule of handshakes – a point the White House has leaned on heavily.
