Trump’s hidden condition prompts health speculations during 80th birthday

There was no shortage of spectacle at President Donald Trump’s controversial White House birthday bash, but amidst cage fights and Blue Angels flyovers, audiences still couldn’t help but notice something the commander in chief was trying hard to cover up: his bruised hands.

Onlookers have been raising questions about the “heavy makeup slathered across his hand” during the event, writes the Independent. “Trump’s hand appeared to be discolored and coated in a thick layer of concealer, despite having thrown no punches himself.”

“Trump’s hand this evening at the UFC fight,” posted political analyst Brian Krassenstein with an image of the president’s swollen and concealer-covered hand. “Totally normal…if you are one of the fighters who just completed 3 rounds.”

He wasn’t the only one who noticed, as social media lit up with jest at the president’s attempt to hide his condition.

“What happens when you shake his hand?” wondered one commenter. “Do you get finger tips full of makeup?”

“Maybe the ‘fight’ will be over soon,” mused another.

Others took issue with the shoddy coverup’s application, saying, “They should have picked a better shade of orange,” and noting, “He has billions of dollars. Why can’t he get a concealer that matches?”

All jokes aside, the condition of Trump’s health has raised rampant speculation as his physical and mental decline have become increasingly apparent over the course of his second term. His bruised hands and corresponding concealer have only fueled such questions.

“White House officials have downplayed the president’s persistent hand bruising, blaming it on his frequent handshakes with other world leaders and politicians,” writes the Independent. “Trump’s physical health and cognitive function have long been called into question, despite a recent medical exam determining that he is in ‘excellent health,’ the White House announced in May.”

“At the time of the exam,” explained the Independent, “White House Physician Dr. Sean Barbabella noted, as the White House has repeatedly explained, that Trump’s hand bruising is consistent with ‘minor soft tissue irritation related to frequent handshaking’ while on aspirin therapy. Trump’s aspirin therapy is used to prevent cardiovascular issues, and his doctor said that he recommended a lower dose of aspirin.”

But this explanation has done little to stem questions and jokes, largely because of his own attempts to conceal the bruises have consistently involved poorly matched Band-Aids and cover-up.

Beyond his bruising, Trump’s appearance and actions have prompted much discussion about the state of his health. Trump has made an unusual number of hospital visits over the course of his second term and is frequently asked by his doctors to take cognitive tests for detecting dementia. Experts have raised questions about his tendency to fall asleep during Oval Office meetings and his alarming speech patterns, and even former allies have questioned his fitness and raised the idea of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from office.

As the Independent reports, “Most Americans, 59 percent, do not believe Trump has the mental acuity to serve as president, according to a recent poll from the Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos. Roughly 55 percent said they do not think he is physically healthy enough to carry out his presidential duties.”