President Trump has packed his faithful supply of hand make-up for his trip to Scotland.
Photographs of Trump meeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday reveal that persistent bruising on his right hand continues to be covered with heavy concealer.
The president was announcing a trade deal between the U.S. and Europe when cameras panned to his hand.
The White House referred the Daily Beast to a July 17 medical report that diagnosed the president with chronic venous insufficiency, saying it was a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.
The White House also referred to remarks from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said: “The president remains in excellent health.”
The bruising on his hand was particularly visible as Trump spoke to the media on the South Lawn of the White House on Friday before he departed on Marine One for his trip to Scotland.
The mysterious ailment on Trump’s hand made news in February when the large bruise was noticed during a White House visit by French President Emmanuel Macron. It has become a talking point ever since.
It was also spotted last Thursday during Trump’s visit to the Federal Reserve headquarters on Thursday.
The bruise was later explained by the White House as being a result of the large number of handshakes the president has to make every day.
Leavitt told the Daily Beast earlier this month that 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.”
Last week, Leavitt produced a letter from the White House physician to address the issue of Trump’s swelling and bruising, confirming Trump had been seen for a check-up.
The “comprehensive examination” of the 79-year-old concluded he had Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), which occurs when the veins cannot manage blood flow well, making it hard for the blood to return to the heart.
The president’s physician, Sean Barbabella, said in his report, “Recent photos of the president have shown minor bruising on the back of his hand. This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.”
He added, “This is a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy.”
