According to the White House, there’s a new explanation for Donald Trump’s frequently bruised hands. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned to CBS News that Trump accidentally struck his hand against the corner of a signing table during the Board of Peace event in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday, leading to a noticeable bruise. This fresh mark was observed on his left hand, which is typically not the one camouflaged with makeup to hide bruises. Leavitt had previously explained that Trump’s right hand often appears bruised due to the sheer number of handshakes he engages in.
Trump Links Hand Bruising to High Aspirin Dose
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal on New Year’s Day, Trump revealed that he bruises more easily because he disregards medical advice by taking a higher daily dose of aspirin than recommended, aiming to maintain thin blood. At the beginning of the Board of Peace event at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, observers and photos indicated that there was no visible bruising on Trump’s hand. However, subsequent images revealed a prominent purple bruise had developed, with a White House official reminding CBS of Trump’s earlier disclosure about his aspirin regimen.
The President openly shared that he takes more aspirin than his doctors advise, attributing it to a bit of superstition. ‘Aspirin is known to thin the blood, and I prefer not having thick blood coursing through my heart,’ Trump explained to the Journal. ‘I want it to be thin. Does that make sense?’ Despite medical professionals’ recommendations, the 79-year-old opts to rely on what he describes as his ‘good genetics’ rather than adhering to conventional medical guidance.
Trump Admits Doctors Advised Lower Aspirin Dose
Trump is taking 325 milligrams per day, which he says he’s been dosing for 25 years. He admitted that doctors have encouraged him to take a lower dosage of aspirin. A low dose is usually approximately 81 milligrams, according to the Mayo Clinic. Taking higher dosages of aspirin can significantly increase the severity of side effects including more serious ones like internal bleeding in the stomach, intestines and brain – especially in older patients. But the biggest benefit is potentially avoiding a heart attack by keeping blood thinner so the flow is stronger.
The thinned blood also stops blood cells from clumping together to form clots, which slows the body’s ability to stop bleeding from broken capillaries and leading to more noticeable and larger bruising. Trump’s right hand is often pictured with a glob of cover-up make up that Leavitt confirms is concealing bruising, which she says are a result of the president regularly shaking people’s hands. At 79-years-old, Trump is the oldest person to be elected and serve as US president.
