As President Donald Trump brags to friendly media about his recent physical and claims his health is great, the more unfriendly media outlets are speculating about a persistent bruise on his right hand that has appeared in images spanning from October to earlier this week.
The Daily Mail showed several close-up photos of the bruise, which looks like it has been covered with makeup to make it less noticeable.
Trump, who is 78, has not mentioned the bruise, but it was last seen on Tuesday as he presented the Commander-in-Chief trophy to the Navy Midshipmen football team.
Back in February, a White House official asked about the bruise and said it was from shaking hands with hundreds of people during the campaign and as Trump has completed his duties as president.
A British doctor told Daily Mail online that the bruise could be a minor contusion from bumping the hand or from a blood draw.
This type of bruising is "more prominent" in older adults because of "thinning skin" and "more fragile blood vessels," Dr Ola Otulana said.
That was the most generous explanation given, though it was probably the most likely.
On the left, many would love to catch Trump trying to hide negative health information, such as a chronic illness, since it would derail similar criticisms of former President Joe Biden and put them on an even footing--even if it was too late to affect the election.
Other speculation was that it could be from an IV, suggesting that Trump might have undergone chemotherapy or other infusions because of a chronic illness.
A vitamin deficiency was also mentioned, given the president's propensity for fast food and diet soda.
Finally, some said that Trump might have been dehydrated and needed fluids by IV, which could have caused the bruise.
Some of these explanations sound plausible, and it makes sense that Trump wouldn't want the public to know if he had a chronic illness.
There is no evidence that anything is seriously wrong with Trump; sadly, it is wishful thinking on the part of his haters that this would be the case.
The official word on Trump's health according to his physician, Capt. Sean Barbabella, is as follows: "President Trump exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State."
