Politics

Trump’s Sausage Fingers on Display as He Invades Venezuela

POINT IT OUT

The president’s meaty fingers were hard to miss on Saturday.

Donald Trump with inset of his hands
White House

Donald Trump’s surprise attack on Venezuela wasn’t the only thing on display Saturday.

Photos released by the White House of the president’s makeshift situation room at his Mar-a-Lago estate showed Trump, 79, with his trademark sausage fingers prominently in view as he watched the U.S. military abduct Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

His bulging fingers were seen again in social media posts from the weekend, including of him with a Venezuelan supporter, Anirays Bolivar Camino.

The White House
The president's sausage fingers are visible in his makeshift war room at his Palm Beach estate. White House /White House
White House
Sausage fingers can be a sign of aging. White House

Sausage fingers—known medically as dactylitis—can be caused by inflammation that leads to visible swelling. Fingers can also enlarge or swell with age, according to some experts.

Other signs of Trump’s age were prominent throughout Saturday as he gloated over the United States’ abrupt takeover of Venezuela. At an 11 a.m. news conference where he said the U.S. would simply run the South American country—home to just under 30 million people—until new, American-approved leadership was installed, the president appeared to nearly nod off.

Trump
The president's meaty fingers were prominent in social media posts throughout Saturday. Instagram

Throughout the conference, which lasted less than two hours, Trump struggled to keep his eyes open and swayed back and forth, a behavior that has become a familiar sight during Oval Office events and roundtables while others are speaking.

The president’s swollen fingers aren’t the only noticeable sights on his hands. Trump rang in the New Year on Wednesday with his usual mismatched concealer, which is frequently applied to cover purplish bruising on his hands.

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 31: U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for a New Year’s Eve event at his Mar-a-Lago home on December 31, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. The president addressed guests and celebrated the arrival of 2026. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump welcomed a new year with his trusty makeup over his bruised hand. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The bruises have fueled months of speculation about the president’s health since they first drew attention in February, in part from reporting by the Daily Beast. After repeatedly attributing the marks to frequent handshaking and aspirin use—the president addressed the issue himself in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump said. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that explanation last week, telling the Daily Beast that Trump’s frequent handshaking caused the bruising—a claim she has stood by since February.

“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,” she said Dec. 28.

Trump will be the oldest sitting president at the end of his second term.