Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has waded into an online debate regarding an apparent rash on the hands of former President Donald Trump.
An appearance by the Republican 2024 presidential frontrunner inside Trump Tower in New York on January 16 sparked speculation after he raised his right hand, showing red marks on it.
Unsubstantiated rumors followed the pictures, including comments from James Carville, a Democrat political consultant and former Bill Clinton strategist. He said during a livestream that he believed the marks to be sores, rather than cuts. Newsweek contacted Trump’s campaign staff about the rumors by email.
“I’ve asked a number of M.D.s what medical condition manifests itself through hand sores, and the answer is immediate and unanimous: secondary syphilis,” Carville added.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the secondary stage of syphilis “typically starts with the development of a rash on one or more areas of the body.”
Rashes, the CDC adds, “may appear as rough, red, or reddish-brown spots on the palm of the hands and bottoms of the feet.”
Charly TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images
There is nothing to suggest Carville is correct about the marks on Trump’s hand, something Jones is convinced he has an answer for. The conspiracy theorist said he would routinely get similar marks on his hands from playing golf.
“It’s what I grew up witnessing when I played golf. I would routinely get it. You can see, it’s perfect golfer’s rash,” Jones added.
“The man plays up to two complete, 18-hole rounds a day. He’s a top scratch golfer, almost professional. This isn’t just about even defending Trump. It’s about defending reality and I’m sick of it. These people are so desperate.”
Trump is known to be a keen golfer, but it is not clear if Jones’ estimation of how much he plays every day is accurate.
A Business Insider article looked into the claims about Trump’s hands and spoke to dermatologists, who said there could be four possible reasons behind the marks on the politician’s hands. They are: Trump’s hands are too dry; lime juice on his hands; golf blisters; or another unexplained reason.
“Rashes on the hands can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from infections to inflammatory conditions to external exposures,” said associate professor of dermatology at New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Joshua Zeichner.
Anti-Trump accounts on social media have routinely said that Trump’s health is deteriorating, including his cognitive ability, but there is no evidence for this.
Trump himself has said he believes his cognitive health to be even better than it was 20 years ago. “I think, cognitively I’m better than I was 20 years ago,” the former president told supporters Wednesday. “I don’t know why.”
Trump added that he feels as though he is around “35 years old.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.