President Donald Trump signed a stopgap spending bill on Wednesday, officially ending the record 43-day government shutdown — but what caught more attention wasn’t the bill itself, it was his right hand.
During the Oval Office signing, cameras noticed Trump keeping his right hand partly hidden under the desk or behind the folder containing the bill. At times, he placed his left hand over the right, seemingly trying to conceal a noticeable bruise that has sparked speculation for months.
Earlier in the week, the same hand was seen covered in heavy makeup when Trump received a framed Washington Commanders jersey from team owner Josh Harris. This time, however, the 79-year-old president skipped the cover-up, revealing a dark mark on his hand as he waved to reporters.
Trump appeared tense as he briefly pretended to take questions from the press before walking out, avoiding inquiries about the newly released Jeffrey Epstein emails that surfaced from the House Oversight Committee.
The White House has tried to downplay the bruise, saying it’s “a minor soft tissue irritation” caused by frequent handshakes and aspirin use for heart health. Still, observers have noted that Trump has been seen repeatedly trying to hide it — during speeches, dinners, and even sporting events.
Health rumors have swirled since August, when Trump was caught on video appearing unsteady while walking the red carpet to greet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Alaska visit. The clip showed him swaying slightly as he approached, sparking new questions about his stamina.
White House officials brushed off the concerns then too. “That was a perfect walk,” communications director Steven Cheung snapped when reporters pressed about Trump’s balance during a later event.
Adding to the chatter, Trump recently made an awkward slip while showing Fox News host Laura Ingraham around his self-styled “Presidential Walk of Fame.” Pointing to a plaque, he bragged it was “half-inch thick bronze… and it’s pure brass,” confusing two different metals on live TV.
California Governor Gavin Newsom quickly seized the moment, mocking him on X: “Bronze. Brass. Brain damage. Trump’s holy trinity.”
As the shutdown ends and Washington returns to work, questions about Trump’s health — and that lingering bruise — aren’t likely to fade anytime soon.
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