Former President Donald Trump caused a stir on Wednesday when he was seen leaving his Manhattan apartment with red markings on his right hand.
The mysterious patches, resembling blisters, caught the attention of many and caused a wave of speculation about the possible cause. Trump, known for his outspoken nature, has remained uncharacteristically tight-lipped about the matter, further fueling the rumors about his hand.
The unusual markings were first spotted in photos of Trump’s right index finger, thumb, and upper palm as he waved to cameras while departing his Fifth Avenue residence for his latest trial. The blemishes quickly made headlines on the Drudge Report and became a buzzworthy topic among politicos. People began to theorize about the cause, with some suggesting the sexually transmitted disease syphilis as a possibility.
Although the red spots do resemble syphilis sores, there is no evidence to suggest that Trump has the disease. However, the speculation continued, with some even accusing Trump of potentially faking the blemishes. The hosts of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” questioned whether the marks could be magic markers, blood, or something that may have been exacerbated by Trump’s behavior during his defamation trial surrounding his statements about writer E. Jean Carroll.
Democratic strategist James Carville stirred the pot when he suggested on the Politicon podcast that Trump may have “the clap,” referring to gonorrhea, a common STI. He claimed to have consulted “a number” of doctors who all agreed that Trump may have “secondary syphilis,” though he did not reveal his sources and added a disclaimer that the photos may have been altered.
NEW: Trump trolls reporter who asks about his ‘bloody’ hand which went viral last week thanks to the obsessed media.
Amazing.
The reporter snarkily asked Trump about his hand which prompted the former president to show him his uninjured hands.
“What was wrong with it? Maybe… pic.twitter.com/3EkokFWBmC
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 31, 2024
Some doctors offered more rational explanations for the blemishes. George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences Professor Jonathan Reiner suggested on Twitter that Trump may have injured himself and stated that it is not uncommon for a 77-year-old to fall, while Joshua Zeichner, an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, told Business Insider that the patches could be a rash caused by a variety of factors, such as Trump’s golf club grip or dry hands.
Meanwhile, Trump’s latest trial in Manhattan federal court is ongoing as he faces a lawsuit from writer E. Jean Carroll. Carroll has accused Trump of sexually abusing her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s and has been awarded $5 million in damages. She is now seeking at least an additional $10 million in the defamation case after a judge ruled in her favor. On Wednesday, during the trial, Judge Lewis Kaplan threatened to kick Trump out of the courtroom for making “disruptive” comments in front of the jury. This prompted a heated exchange between Kaplan and Trump, with the former president telling the judge he would “love” to be kicked out.
Despite the ongoing trial, Trump remains focused on his political ambitions. He recently won the Iowa primary, winning a majority of votes at 51%. He is also projected to win the upcoming New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, where he is expected to secure nearly half of the votes against his remaining competitors, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average.
As the speculation surrounding Trump’s hand continues, many are eager to see if the blemishes reappear or if Trump will finally address the issue. While some may dismiss the matter as insignificant, others see it as a reflection of the former president’s health and well-being. With Trump still a prominent figure in the political scene, even after leaving office, any changes in his appearance or behavior will continue to be closely scrutinized by the public.
