Donald Trump has once again sparked concern about his health after he was seen with what appeared to be a scabbing rash on his neck at a Medal of Honor ceremony.
From swollen ankles to mysteriously bruised hands, it’s safe to say that Trump’s health has been a hot topic among Americans since he returned to office for a second term, sealing his place in the record books as the oldest US president ever.
Yet despite the insistence from his doctors and the White House that he is the perfect picture of health, it hasn’t stopped the public from noticing the arrival of another new symptom.
Images of the new health detail first came to light during a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on Monday (March 2), and showed what appeared to be a large red rash and scabs on the right side of Trump’s neck which extended from behind his ear to the back of his hairline.
Donald Trump’s hand also appeared visibly bruised during the ceremony (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
What has the White House said about Trump’s neck rash?
While there could be any number of causes behind the 79-year-old president’s mystery rash, White House physician Dr Sean Barbabella said in a statement: “President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment, prescribed by the White House Doctor.”
“The president is using this treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks,” Dr Barbabella added. He did not elaborate on why the cream was prescribed.
The rash could be seen on the president’s neck (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
In addition to the rash spotted on his neck, Trump’s right hand was also seen sporting a bruise, once again coated by a layer of make-up.
For over a year, the POTUS has continually been seen with bruises on his hand, seemingly covered with make-up as he goes about his day to day duties.
In the past, some Americans theorized that the marking may have been the result of multiple blood draws, however, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed this speculation as she explained that the bruises were ‘because he’s constantly working and shaking hands all day every day’.
She added: “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.”
Trump, seen here in August, has repeatedly been seen with bruised hands over the past year (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump himself also offered some insight into his bruising, as he confessed back in January to the The Wall Street Journal that he takes 325mg of aspirin a day, as opposed to the 81mg recommended for a heart-health regimen.
“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?”
In addition to the bruising, Trump was also previously diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition where leg vein walls or valves are weakened, causing blood to pool rather than flow back to the heart. This can lead to heavy, painful and swollen legs – or sometimes even skin changes like discoloration or ulcers.
Who are the oldest presidents in US history?
According to Statista, the oldest US presidents at the time of their inauguration are:
- Donald Trump (second term): 78 years, 220 days
- Joe Biden (2021): 78 years, 61 days
- Donald Trump (2017 – first term): 70 years, 220 days
- Ronald Reagan (1981): 69 years, 349 days
- William H. Harrison (1841): 68 years, 23 days
