Donald Trump slathered makeup on his long-injured hands as he accepted a fictional award from a pro-coal group at the White House.
The 79-year-old president was seen from a distance wearing heavy makeup as he walked through the White House on his way to an event.
A chalky beige coating ran from his wrist to the knuckles of his right hand.
Trump, 79, wore thick makeup on his hands before attending an event where he received the “Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal” award from a pro-coal group. /Anna Money Tree/Getty Images
Trump’s press secretary, Carolyn Leavitt, attributed the president’s bruises to frequent handshakes on Wednesday. But that explanation has lost some credibility as the right-handed president’s left hand also began to change color. /Anna Money Tree/Getty Images
For months, Trump went to great lengths to hide a large purple bruise on his right hand, which the White House and the president attributed to aspirin consumption and frequent handshakes.
When reached for comment about Trump’s makeup at Wednesday’s event, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Daily Beast in a statement: “President Trump is a people’s man who meets and shakes hands with more Americans every day than any other president in history. His commitment is unwavering, and he proves it every day.”
But Levitt’s usual handshake defense has lost some credibility since the right-handed president’s left hand also began to change color.
The president’s pink makeup was also clearly visible as he stood next to Peabody Energy CEO Jim Grech. /Anna Money Tree/Getty Images
Trump’s beige coating is visible from a distance. /Anna Money Tree/Getty Images
Last month, when Trump attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, he had black bruises on both hands, with the left hand being particularly severely bruised.
“I had them clamped on the table,” Trump said when asked about them on his way back to Washington.
The aging president also attributed the bruises to his unusual aspirin regimen. His doctor, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily — much larger than his usual dose of 81 milligrams — to “prevent heart disease.”
Last month, when Trump attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, he had black bruises on both hands, with the left hand being particularly severely bruised. /Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Trump insisted on taking a higher dose than Barbera recommended.
“They said, ‘Pick the smaller one,’ and I said, ‘Well, I want the blood to flow nice and thin in my heart,'” he told NBC’s Tom Llamas last week.
In the same interview, he claimed, “Physically and mentally, I feel like I did 50 years ago,” despite having multiple health issues and significant cognitive decline.
The Washington Coal Club presented Trump with its “Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal” award on Wednesday, as he delivered a self-indulgent speech in which the president was vague and raised health concerns.
“I’m proud to officially name the indisputable…” Trump said, before mumbling incomprehensible gibberish for about two seconds.
“When did this come out? Mr. Speaker,” he said, then seemed to remember his lines and get back on track. “The undisputed champion of beautiful, clean coal.”
The Daily Beast has documented Trump’s deteriorating health during his second term, reporting last week that the president, who often naps during formal meetings, suffered a swollen ankle during a meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
The elderly president’s swollen ankle protruded from his shoe as he sat next to Colombian President Gustavo Petro. /Anadolu/ Photo illustration: Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Anadolu via Getty Images
The White House revealed last year that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition common in older adults in which leg veins have trouble pushing blood back to the heart.