For months now, the media has been playing amateur doctor with President Trump’s hands. Zoomed in photos, breathless cable segments, and a parade of “experts” have tried to turn a little bruising into the next Watergate. Now, President Trump himself has finally explained what is actually going on, and it turns out the answer is far less dramatic than his critics were hoping for.
In an exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal, President Trump revealed that the bruising on the backs of his hands is caused by medication, specifically aspirin. According to Trump, he takes a higher dose than his doctors recommend because he believes it benefits his heart. “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump said. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?” It does to anyone who understands basic cardiovascular care and does not rely on Twitter for medical advice.
Leavitt: As for the bandages, we've given you an explanation about that in the past. The president is literally constantly shaking hands. pic.twitter.com/SBAhqSuBIY
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 11, 2025
Trump acknowledged that his doctors would prefer he take a smaller dose, but noted that he has taken the larger one for years. “What it does do is it causes bruising,” he said. Simple, direct, and refreshingly honest.
Of course, that did not stop CNN from launching an in depth report loaded with ominous language about Trump’s age, fitness, and transparency. CNN pointed out that Trump is taking 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, citing guidance from the Mayo Clinic that low dose aspirin is often between 75 and 100 milligrams, while also admitting that daily aspirin therapy can range up to 325 milligrams. In other words, Trump is still within an established medical range, but that detail does not exactly drive panic fueled ratings.
This explanation does differ slightly from what White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially emphasized. Leavitt previously told reporters the bruising was consistent with frequent hand shaking, along with aspirin use. That comment was immediately mocked by critics who apparently believe the President of the United States does not spend his days meeting people, greeting supporters, and actually interacting with the public.
Leavitt also addressed concerns about mild leg swelling, explaining that Trump was evaluated by the White House medical unit and diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common and benign condition in people over 70. She stressed that all test results were within normal limits and that an echocardiogram confirmed normal heart structure and function. No blood clots, no arterial disease, no hidden crisis.
What makes this episode revealing is not the bruising itself, but the reaction to it. President Trump sits for one of his most detailed health conversations with journalists, explains his medication choices, releases medical evaluations, and yet the media response is still suspicion and dramatics. The same outlets that spent years dismissing obvious cognitive decline in other leaders are suddenly obsessed with a bruise.
The reality is straightforward. President Trump is active, engaged, and transparent about his health. Aspirin can cause bruising. Hand shaking can cause bruising. Neither is a scandal. The real story here is how desperate some people are for one.
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