The White House released a statement related to Donald Trump’s health after speculation arose online about a bruise on his hand

47th President of the United States was spotted with a bruise on his hand, leaving people concerned, and while the White House has addressed the worry, a doctor has weighed in with their own theory too.

On February 24, Donald Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron. The pair went on to have an awkward exchange and hand shake.

During the meeting, eagle-eyed viewers were quick to spot a bruise on Trump’s hand, taking to social media to question what it could mean.

Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, later offered up an explanation as people began to speculate what could’ve led to the bruising, and whether Trump has a health issue.

She said: “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.”

In a follow-up statement, she reiterated her point, stating: “President Trump has bruises on his hand because he’s constantly working and shaking hands all day every day.”

Many social media users remained dubious of the explanation, however, instead of something being wrong with Trump’s health, some suggested the bruise may simply be a sign of Trump’s age.

And a doctor has since offered a similar theory too, highlighting to the DailyMail.com Trump is the second-oldest president in US history at the age of 78.

Dr Stuart Fischer, internal medicine physician in New York, reflected how as you grow older, your blood vessels weaken, and so an ‘aggressive’ handshake could result in a bruise forming more easily ‘on any part of the body’.

Additionally, the doctor theorized how someone of Trump’s age is more likely to develop osteoarthritis.

Healthline explains: “Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition that causes inflammation, stiffness, and pain in the joints.

“It’s the most common type of arthritis, affecting nearly 32.5 million people in the United States.”

Dr Fischer states the effect osteoarthritis has on the joints could also cause easier bruising or discoloration.

And in Trump’s case? He resolved: “I think it’s probably all of those things together.”

Even if ageing is simply the reason for Trump’s bruise, it’s still not eased some Americans’ concerns – many concerned with Biden’s age when he was president and worrying about how it may affect his ability to lead the country.

Biden was 78 when he took office, and subsequently the oldest president ever at inauguration.

His age and whether it was impacting whether he was mentally fit enough to be in office was called into question on multiple occasions, such as when Biden ended a speech by saying, ‘God Save the Queen’.

In December 2024, Trump said he’d release his full medical report, however, this speculation around his well-being has sparked more people calling for its immediate release.