Trump, 78, Shows Mysterious Large Bruise on Hand
The bruise was prominent in several photos taken during Trump’s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Getty Images
It wasn’t just an awkward handshake between President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron that caught the public’s attention when the two leaders met on Monday.
A large bruise covered up with makeup on Trump’s right hand featured prominently in several photos taken at the Oval Office, sending social media abuzz with speculation.
A close-up photo showed makeup piled on top of discoloration on the president’s hand.
A bruise can be seen on President Donald Trump’s right hand during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
X users chimed in with their own guesses on what could have caused the bruise. Some suggested that it was an IV bruise, while others mused that it was triggered by the use of blood thinners.
The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.
The bruise was spotted just minutes after Trump and Macron shared a lengthy, awkward handshake as they sat in front of reporters in the Oval Office.
Sign Up for The Swamp Newsletter
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Trump initiated the six-second power struggle by grabbing Macron’s arm after jokingly saying that the French president presented a deal on paper that was different from what they had discussed verbally.
Eagle-eyed observers noticed the bruise, visible on President Donald Trump’s right hand, just minutes after an aggressive handshake with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Getty
“We came out and he started speaking the French deal,” Trump said. “We didn’t have an interpreter and he was going on and on and on, and I was just nodding ‘Yes, yes, yes, yes. And [Macron] really sold me out because I got back the next day and I read the papers, and I said, ‘That’s not what we said!’”
After the handshake, Macron gave Trump a pat on his right knee.
quite a handshake or whatever this is here between Trump and Macron pic.twitter.com/RrbwQfCQAM
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 24, 2025
The meeting was rife with awkward moments. In another instance, Macron fact-checked Trump to his face after the American president claimed that Europe was “loaning” money to Ukraine.
Macron quickly touched Trump’s arm and jumped in to set the record straight: “No, in fact, to be frank, we paid 60 percent of the total effort, and it was through, like the U.S., loans, guarantee, grants, and we provided real money, to be clear.”
Trump appeared to yield by throwing his hand up, but kept smirking as Macron spoke.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
- Account (completed)
- Payment (completed)
- Confirmation (completed)
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
- 1Account
- 2Payment
- 3Confirmation