Donald Trump'sbruised hand, closed eyesand an unusually clumsy boast about a cognitive test have put the 79-year-old US president's health back under the spotlight in Washington, with scrutiny sharpening on the eve of a medical visit to Walter Reed on Tuesday. The latest images and remarks, recorded at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day and in a New York speech last week, have revived questions about what the White House is willing to say, and what it would rather leave hanging.
Did you know that "dumb" is spelled with a "b" on the end? Yes we all know that.Donald Trump just found out though. What a fucking nimrod...pic.twitter.com/ZnYOHYivHA
The news came after weeks in which Trump's physical appearance and public bearing have been examined almost frame by frame. Photographs earlier this month showedheavy makeup on the back of his right handduring a White House event promoting a federal prescription drug website, andsimilar discolouration was later visible when he addressed graduating cadets at the US Coast Guard Academy.
The White House has said the bruising is linked to frequent handshakes and aspirin use, while Trump himself has insisted he remains in excellent health.
There was nothing subtle about thelatest images from Arlington. Photographers again captured what appeared to be bruising on Trump's hand beneath a layer of concealer as he attended Memorial Day events, and footage circulating online showed him with his eyes closed for a prolonged period while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke.
On their own, such moments can be over-read. But in Trump's case, where every gesture tends to become part theatre, part evidence, they have fed an obvious public obsession with his age and condition.
Absolute cognitive collapse. Donald Trump completely detaches from reality, bizarrely claiming military doctors gave him a complex arithmetic test to prove he isn't dumb.He hallucinates that professionals were stunned by his ability to identify a horse and solve fake math.pic.twitter.com/1sU2UZvuVi
The White House has already been forced into explanation mode. Reuters reported in January that Trump said he takes more aspirin than doctors recommend and that it contributes to the bruising on his hand, while White House doctors have linked his symptoms to chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that can cause swelling in the legs.
The diagnosis was first revealed following a medical evaluation last year prompted by mild swelling in his lower legs and ankles. While the condition itself is not considered particularly serious, it has drawn increased attention as public scrutiny surrounding his health continues to intensify.
The issue also drew attention following remarks by Trump during a speech in New York on Friday. He said an insult from critics calling him 'dumb' prompted him to take a cognitive test, which he claimed he 'aced.'
Source: International Business Times UK
