Trump’s bruised hand gets tongues wagging at Davos
Michael Searles
Donald Trump’s right hand was the focus of the world’s attention as he officially launched the Peace Assembly with a flourish of his pen.
But attention quickly turned to the US president’s left hand when cameras captured heavy bruising and discoloration as he stood alongside world leaders in Davos.
The White House initially discounted the injury, which was caused by multiple handshakes that were not usually made with the left hand.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially told London: Daily Telegraph: “President Trump is a man of the people and meets more Americans and shakes their hands every day than any other president in history. His commitment is unwavering and he proves it every day.”
But Leavitt later changed his tune and offered a new explanation: The President had shot his hand at the signing ceremony.
He said: “At the Peace Board event in Davos today, President Trump hit his hand on the corner of the signing table, causing a bruise.”
Less than an hour later, Trump reemerged, applying heavy makeup to his hand, which also appeared swollen.
Trump is regularly seen with bruises on his right hand during the first year of his second term as president and is routinely rejected by the White House as a result of his handshake.
However, in recent weeks, bruises began to appear on his left hand.
Rumors about his health have been rife since the White House announced last year that he had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) – a condition that causes blood to pool in the veins – after a “slight swelling” was noticed in his lower leg.
The president has insisted that he is in “excellent” health despite repeated questions and a litany of theories supported by swelling seen on his limbs, including his ankles.
He had a CT scan last year to “conclusively rule out any cardiovascular problems,” his doctor said.
Professor Stephen Westaby, a former heart surgeon at Oxford, said CVI in itself was not cause for concern and any associated swelling or bruising could appear worse due to Trump’s golf course outings and regular flights.
While Westaby said he couldn’t speculate specifically about Trump’s health, he said the president “does a lot of things, including playing golf, so an element of trauma could be possible at some stage.”
“When you read his condition, he’s taking very high doses of aspirin, which can make minor bruising worse,” he said.
“Everybody has reasons why their limbs swell. And of course, if you fly from the US to Europe and you’re almost 80, the cabin pressure and so on makes people’s ankles swell. It does. I think he’s a very healthy man for his age.”
Since his CVI diagnosis, Trump has revealed that he takes more than the recommended daily dose of blood-thinning aspirin to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, refuses to wear compression socks, and finds exercise other than golf “boring.”
Westaby said shaking hands, like golf, can cause a “repetitive strain” injury.
“Very specifically, I think chronic venous insufficiency is very, very common in anyone who travels a lot by plane. It puts pressure on the peripheral circulation, causing what we call edema.” [swelling caused by trapped fluid]he added.
Westaby added that the venous system is “very plastic” and that temporary swelling “will heal over days and weeks” while other veins will compensate.
“When you’re in his position, the biggest risks are the ones we saw last year with people shooting guns at you.”
