Trump’s Hand Bruising in Davos: White House Offers Explanation

Photos showing noticeable bruising on President Donald Trump’s left hand during his January 22, 2026, appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, have been confirmed as authentic, according to White House officials.

The dark bruising, clearly visible in multiple Getty Images photos taken by professional photographers at the event, sparked immediate discussion across social media platforms as users shared and commented on the president’s appearance.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the issue directly in a statement to media outlets, explaining: “At the Board of Peace event in Davos, President Trump hit his hand on the corner of the signing table, causing it to bruise.” The incident reportedly occurred during a charter-signing ceremony for the Board of Peace, an organization Trump established to oversee the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

When questioned about the bruising aboard Air Force One later that day, President Trump confirmed the explanation: “My hand, I clipped it on the table. So I put a little, what do they call it? Cream on it. But I clipped it.” He added a comment about his medication regimen, noting, “I would say take aspirin if you like your heart but don’t like a little bruising.”

The bruise appears to have been temporary. Photos from January 23 showed the president’s hand had returned to a more normal appearance, with White House officials confirming the bruising had diminished significantly by the following day.

This isn’t the first time the president’s hands have drawn public attention. In March 2025, similar bruising was observed on Trump’s right hand, which the White House attributed to his “constantly working and shaking hands all day every day.” Trump himself referenced this explanation in a December 2024 interview with Time magazine.

Medical experts note that bruising can become more common with age, particularly in individuals taking blood-thinning medications like aspirin. In July 2025, the White House medical unit conducted tests after noticing “mild swelling” in Trump’s lower legs, diagnosing him with chronic venous insufficiency—a common condition in older adults that causes blood to pool in the veins.

At that time, Leavitt had also addressed hand bruising, attributing it to “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin.” According to Associated Press reporting, the president takes daily aspirin as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Aspirin’s blood-thinning properties, while beneficial for cardiovascular health, can lead to easier bruising as a side effect. This happens because the medication interferes with blood platelet function, potentially causing blood vessels near the skin’s surface to leak after minor trauma that might otherwise go unnoticed.

The visibility of the bruise during such a high-profile international event raised questions about the president’s health, though White House officials maintain that there are no serious concerns beyond the explained minor injury and previously disclosed conditions.

The Board of Peace event in Davos represented a significant diplomatic initiative for the Trump administration, aimed at solidifying the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Despite the attention drawn to the president’s physical appearance, the White House emphasized the importance of the diplomatic work being conducted at the summit.

Photo evidence from Getty Images and other professional sources confirmed the timeline, showing no visible bruising on January 21, but clear discoloration on Trump’s left hand during multiple appearances on January 22.

AI Analysis: Authentic vs. False news

Artificial intelligence-assisted forensic image analysis, now standard practice for verifying photographs of public figures, confirmed the images were not digitally manipulated. Experts in digital media authentication noted that the consistent appearance of the bruising across multiple photos from different photographers and angles provided strong evidence of authenticity.

AI chatbot vs. AI chatbot

ChatGPT can’t generate images, but it can analyze existing ones. The inability to create images means there’s a clear distinction between genuine photojournalism and AI-generated content. When it comes to photos that circulate on social media, this distinction becomes crucial.

Forensic image experts emphasize the importance of sourcing images from reputable news agencies and photographers, as was the case with the Trump hand bruising photos, which came from Getty Images’ professional photographers.