What’s causing Donald Trump’s orangeness? An expert believes she knows the solution

Although Donald Trump’s remarkably orange face has long drawn attention, fresh theories are emerging that may finally provide an explanation.

Although Donald Trump has been in the public eye for decades, his abnormally orange skin truly came into focus during his first term as president. The president, 79, has long refuted claims of spray tans and extensive cosmetics; one official even asserted that his radiant complexion is due solely to “good genes.” However, his browned appearance continues to be ridiculed online, and fresh speculations are already emerging.

Emily Elsie, a photo editor, is one of the people who is wondering the truth. Sharing her thoughts on her Instagram, she wrote: “Why is no one covering this very important data point?” Elsie pointed to images of Trump following last year’s assassination attempt, comparing them to more recent pictures. “In July 2024, Donald Trump looked like this… And now he looks like this,” she noted, placing the two side by side.

“I noticed that Trump’s skin tone tended to oscillate wildly depending on lighting and the color palettes of the photographer,” Elsie said, adding that Trump’s makeup used to seem to be designed for television cameras, which can wash out natural tones. “When Trump took office in 2017, he was significantly less orange… but as his term wore on, more bronzer was applied.” Elsie initially believed the dramatic color shifts were simply the result of photo editing or lighting adjustments.

Then came the pivotal moment: “The makeup virtually vanished after Trump and Biden debated in June 2024,” she said. “The bronzer vanished when Trump was leading the polls and a win was virtually assured.” But something fresh caught Elsie’s attention lately. We’ve never seen him like this, so trust me when I say that.

He seems to be doing his hands now, too. She pointed to pictures of the president with what seemed to be cosmetics covering his hands.

Trump’s team dismissed inquiries for months, claiming that the discoloration resulted from “shaking people’s hands all day.” Later, it was discovered that Trump suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a common disorder that impairs the heart’s ability to receive blood from veins.

Trump’s appearance always seems to get “darker towards the end of his presidential campaigns,” Elsie continued. And rather than making fun of his evolving appearance, she advises people to take it seriously. “He is behaving exactly like we do when we are a) surrounded by images of ourselves, b) insecure, and c) insulated.”