President Donald Trump returned to the public eye on Wednesday after going seven days without making a public appearance – but it wasn’t just his reemergence that got people talking.
Trump appeared in the Oval Office on June 3 after a full week without participating in public events. According to reports, he had not been seen publicly since attending a Cabinet meeting on May 27.
After speaking to reporters, some social media users claimed the president appeared to be deliberately concealing his right hand from cameras, quickly sparking discussion online.
One user alleged Trump was keeping his right hand “covered up pretty good” during the appearance, according to VT. Another wrote: “He has his right hand strategically covering his left hand and seems to look down to make sure he has it adequately covered from view of cameras/press.”
The comments added to growing online speculation about the soon-to-be 80-year-old’s health, which has been a hot topic in recent weeks.
“He seems to disappear around this time”
Independent journalist Aaron Rupar also weighed in on Trump’s return, writing on X: “Trump, who is currently doing a proof of life appearance in the Oval after a week of not being seen in public, sounds extremely tired and haggard.”
In a separate post, he added: “Folks, there is something gravely wrong with the president’s health and the White House is covering it up. This man is obviously not well.”
As Trump’s absence continued, social media users began discussing what some believed could be a pattern.
“Call me old-fashioned, but I think it should be a bigger story that we haven’t seen the President of the United States on live TV in nearly a week. This happens at the beginning of every single month…,” one person wrote, according to VT.
Another added: “I didn’t notice a possible pattern until someone pointed it out. It’s the first of the month. He seems to disappear around this time.”
The discussion comes after a series of large bruises on the back of Trump’s hand have drawn significant attention in recent months. Some social media users have also pointed to a recent neck rash and visibly swollen ankles.
Donald Trump’s medical exam
Speculation intensified further following Trump’s third visit in the past 13 months to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 26. Posting on Truth Social after the appointment, Trump wrote: “Just finished my six month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out PERFECTLY,” according to UNILAD.
“Thank you to the great Doctors and Staff! Heading back to the White House.”
Trump and the White House have repeatedly insisted there is no reason for concern, maintaining that the bruising is caused by frequent handshaking combined with aspirin use as a blood thinner.
According to reports, Trump passed his latest physical with strong results. The White House released a medical memo Friday from Captain Sean Barbabella, Donald Trump’s personal physician. Barbabella documented strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function, according to Tyla.
On the cognitive side, Trump scored 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, placing him “within normal limits.” Barbabella also deemed him “fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State” and said he remains in “excellent health” overall.
The only notable remark was his current weight of 238 pounds, up 14 pounds from last year.
According to Tyla, Barbabella confirmed that “preventive counselling was provided, including guidance on diet, recommendation to take a low-dose aspirin, increased physical activity, and continued weight loss.”
