The White House has employed strategic positioning to conceal President Donald Trump’s persistent hand bruising, utilizing a “Gulf of America” hat as a visual shield during an Oval Office appearance on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. The deliberate placement occurred as Trump announced that Alabama would house the new headquarters of the US Space Command.
During the press conference, Trump positioned himself at his desk with one hand covering the other while a signature red hat bearing the “Gulf of America” inscription was strategically placed on the desk in front of his hands. The 79-year-old president also applied thick makeup to his hand, though concealer attempts have previously failed to adequately mask the visible bruising.
The appearance followed days of health speculation and rumors that had circulated about Trump’s condition. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the ongoing bruising during a July briefing, attributing it to factors consistent with irritation from frequent handshaking and aspirin use. Trump takes aspirin as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen to reduce heart attack and stroke risk.
In July 2025, the White House disclosed that Trump had undergone a medical checkup after experiencing mild swelling in his lower legs. Tests conducted by the White House medical unit revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a condition affecting small valves in veins that help move blood against gravity. The condition gradually diminishes these valves’ functionality, causing blood to pool in the veins.
Dr. Sean Barbabella, Trump’s physician, determined through a comprehensive examination that included vascular, lower extremity, and ultrasound testing that the president showed no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. Medical tests also found no signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness. Leavitt noted that chronic venous insufficiency “is a benign condition that is common in people over age 70.”
The condition was not mentioned in Trump’s comprehensive physical examination report released in April 2025, which involved more than a dozen medical specialists. At that time, Barbabella had determined that the president’s joints and muscles maintained full range of motion with normal blood flow and no swelling. Leavitt did not specify when Trump first noticed the leg swelling that prompted the additional testing.
Recent photographs have shown the bruise’s return despite ongoing concealment efforts. During meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung last month, Trump was positioned behind an Air Force One model on a coffee table, preventing clear views of his legs and potential swelling associated with his diagnosed condition.
The White House has repeatedly deflected questions about the hand bruising cover-up attempts. Medical experts indicate that chronic venous insufficiency has no cure, though patients can manage symptoms through compression stockings, regular walking, and leg elevation. The condition can result in swollen legs and ankles, and severe cases may develop complications, including lower leg ulcers over time.
Trump dismissed health concerns during Tuesday’s appearance, characterizing recent speculation as false reporting. He referenced his recent news conferences and questioned why brief periods without public appearances generated health rumors when his predecessor faced no similar scrutiny during extended absences. Vice President JD Vance had previously acknowledged preparedness to assume presidential duties if a “terrible tragedy” occurred, contributing to speculation about Trump’s health status.
The Gulf of America designation stems from Trump’s January 2025 executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico, which Google and other organizations have implemented following official government source updates. The Associated Press faced exclusion from the White House press pool in February after refusing to adopt the new geographic terminology in its reporting.
