Donald Trump's hands were visibly coated in thick make-up as he arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, with concealer appearing to cover deep purple bruising during a state visit to China intended to project American strength. The 79-year-old president, whose hand bruising has prompted long-running questions about his health, was repeatedly photographed extending the made-up hand as he greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping and toured key sites in the capital.
For weeks, close-up images from Washington have shown bulging veins and discolouration across Trump's knuckles, fuelling renewed scrutiny. The White House has previously said the marks are the result of his frequent handshakes, dismissing speculation about any underlying condition even as the bruising has become more noticeable.
