Trump Admits He’s Wearing Compression Socks and Makeup to Mask Health Problems

Donald Trump has finally confirmed what many suspected — that he’s been using medical aids and makeup to hide his declining health.

In a rare and revealing interview with The Wall Street Journal, the 79-year-old president admitted he wears compression socks for swelling and applies makeup to cover bruises on his hands caused by a daily high-dose aspirin regimen.

“I didn’t like them,” Trump said of the socks. “But they worked.”

The comments mark Trump’s first public acknowledgment of health issues that have fueled rumors for months. He’s America’s oldest president and, despite his public insistence that he’s “in great shape,” close-up photos from recent appearances have shown swollen ankles and visible bruising.

According to Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, the president’s physician, Trump has been diagnosed with “superficial chronic venous insufficiency,” a condition common in older adults that makes it harder for blood to flow from the legs back to the heart.

“He had mild swelling in his lower legs, which we treated,” Barbabella said. “The condition is manageable.”

Trump was treated at Walter Reed Medical Center in July after experiencing discomfort during a campaign trip. At the time, aides insisted the visit was “routine.”

Trump also admitted that he wears makeup on his hands to hide frequent bruising — a side effect of the 325 milligrams of aspirin he takes daily to thin his blood.

“I’ve done it for years,” he said. “They’d rather have me take the smaller one, but I take the big one. I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice, thin blood. Does that make sense?”

Trump described himself as “a little superstitious” about his regimen. “I’ve been taking it for 25 years. I feel fine,” he added.

The bruising has been noticed before. In August, cameras captured what looked like bandages and makeup smudges on Trump’s right hand during a White House meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.

When asked earlier this year, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed it off, saying, “The president shakes thousands of hands a week. Small bruises are normal.”

But Trump acknowledged the problem himself, recounting an incident at the GOP National Convention in Milwaukee when former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi accidentally nicked him with her ring.

“The ring hit the back of my hand and, yes, there was a little cut,” Trump said. “It happens. You get whacked again by someone, you put a little makeup on. Takes ten seconds.”

Despite mounting speculation about his stamina, Trump dismissed talk of frailty. “I’m strong,” he said. “I move a lot. I don’t need to run on a treadmill for hours. That’s not for me.”

Aides say Trump has been standing more often during meetings to improve circulation, a change recommended by doctors.

Still, the admission comes amid increasing questions about whether Trump — now the oldest sitting president in U.S. history — can maintain the physical pace of another campaign season.

“I’ve got good genetics,” he insisted. “That’s all it is. The best genetics.”