Donald Trump’s striking orange face has often been a topic of conversation and wonder. Recently, fresh perspectives have been offered, attempting to solve this ongoing mystery.
“Why is no one covering this?”
Donald Trump has been in the public eye for many years, but it wasn’t until his presidency that people truly took notice of his unusually orange complexion. Despite the rumors swirling around about spray tans or heavy use of makeup, the 79-year-old president denies these allegations, attributing his unique glow to nothing more than “good genes.” However, the Internet never fails to humorously critique his tanned appearance, spurring new theories to surface.
Photo editor Emily Elsie is among those intrigued by Trump’s vibrant hue. On her Instagram, she raised a question that many have pondered: “Why is no one covering this very essential data point?” She compared images of Trump following an assassination attempt last year to more recent ones. “In July 2024, Donald Trump looked like this… And now he looks like this,” she remarked.
Dramatic Color Shifts
Elsie hypothesized that the noticeable changes in Trump’s skin tone might be a result of photo editing or lighting differences. “I observed that Trump’s color seemed to fluctuate significantly depending on the lighting and the color palettes of the photographer,” she said. “In ‘cool’ lighting, Trump’s bronzer is less pronounced. A warmer hue makes his skin look intense and incredibly orange.”
She also noted that Trump’s makeup looked as if it was once optimized for television cameras, which can alter natural tones. However, recently, Elsie believes there’s a deeper explanation. “When Trump first became president in 2017, he was much less orange. But as his term went on, there was an apparent increase in makeup use.”
Elsie has a theory: stress. “The more stressed Trump becomes, the more makeup seems to appear on his face,” she speculated, adding that when he’s away from the pressures of the Oval Office, his appearance often relaxes.
The Turning Point
Then came a critical moment: “After Trump’s debate with Biden in June 2024, the makeup nearly disappeared,” Elsie disclosed. “When Trump was leading in the polls and victory seemed assured, the bronzer was absent.”
However, Elsie has more insights to share. “Believe me when I say that we’ve never seen him like this,” she stated, “and now it looks like he’s paying attention to his hands too.” Elsie referred to images showing makeup seemingly applied to his hands.
For some time, Trump’s team brushed off inquiries, attributing the discoloration to “shaking people’s hands all day.” It was later revealed that Trump suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition that hampers the veins’ ability to return blood to the heart.
Elsie noticed that Trump’s makeup trend tends to “darken towards the end of his presidential campaigns.” She stressed the importance of taking his evolving appearance seriously, urging people to refrain from ridicule. “He’s coping in a manner similar to anyone who feels a) alone b) self-conscious c) surrounded by self-images,” she explained.
