Trump says hand bruise due to bumping a table and aspirin. Is that a common side effect?
U.S. President Donald Trump says a large bruise on his left hand was caused by bumping it on furniture while in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.
“I clipped it on the table,” he told CNN Thursday on Air Force One.
Trump takes aspirin, which makes him prone to bruising.
He was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency in July 2025. His physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said he takes 325 milligrams of aspirin a day to treat the condition.
Aspirin thins the blood and prevents clots, according to the Mayo Clinic . Blood clots inside an artery can slow or stop blood flow to the heart, which can can cause a heart attack.
“I would say, take aspirin if you like your heart, but don’t take aspirin if you don’t want to have a little bruising,” Trump said on Air Force One. “I take the big aspirin, and when you take the big aspirin, they tell you, you bruise. The doctor said, ‘You don’t have to take that, sir, you’re very healthy.’ I said, ‘I’m not taking any chances.’”
Trump explains mystery bruise on his hand. pic.twitter.com/bSStogJjdy
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) January 23, 2026
How does taking aspirin cause bruising?
Harvard Health confirms that bruises can occur while taking aspirin due to a minor blow or injury. “Even slight bumps that you don’t even notice can cause bruises … (Aspirin) can make you bleed a little more easily, including the below-the-skin bleeding seen in bruises.”
Small cuts may take a bit longer than usual to stop bleeding, says Harvard Health. And sometimes people find their gums bleed more easily when they floss or brush after starting low-dose aspirin.
Daily aspirin therapy is prescribed for lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic . It may be recommended for primary prevention of heart attack or stroke. It can also act as secondary prevention for people who have had a heart attack or stroke or have heart disease.
What is Trump’s history of bruising?
Trump has had bruising on his right hand for some time, according to CNN. It predated his return to the White House but drew more attention after he began covering it with heavy makeup and bandages as well as shielding it from cameras with his other hand.
Then left-hand bruising was spotted late last year, says CNN, raising questions about his health.
The president told the Wall Street Journal in a recent interview that he takes a higher dose of daily aspirin than his doctors recommend, arguing “aspirin is good for thinning out the blood.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, also said on Thursday that the bruising was caused by Trump bumping a table. She has noted his frequent hand-shaking and connected it with daily aspirin use and easier bruising.
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