--- title: "White House Responds as Scabby Mark Appears on Trump’s Neck" description: "At an event today, onlookers noticed a \"significant rash-like injury\" on the right side of president Donald Trump's neck." date: "2026-03-02" modified: "2026-03-02" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/health-medicine/mark-trump-neck" categories: - "Health & Medicine" - "Medical" --- # White House Responds as Scabby Mark Appears on Trump’s Neck ![At an event today, onlookers noticed a "significant rash-like injury" on the right side of president Donald Trump's neck.]() *SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images* After kicking off major strikes in Iran on Saturday, president Donald Trump wasn't in a hurry to return to the Oval Office to oversee the massive military offensive. Instead, he attended what the [*New York Times* described]() as a "glitzy fund-raising dinner" at Mar-a-Lago private club and residence in Florida. After a similar lack of public engagement on Sunday, Trump finally appeared in front of the press on Monday morning to deliver comments on the burgeoning war and to [award a Medal of Honor]() to retired United States Army major Terry Richardson. At the event, onlookers noticed a "[significant rash-like injury]()" on the right side of his neck. Indeed, [press photos]() by *Agence France-Presse*'s Saul Loeb show what looks like a prominent reddish wound or scabbing below his right ear. ![Profile view of president Donald Trump. There is a noticeable red, irritated patch of skin on the left side of his neck.]() That was the clearest image, but other shots from the event show the same strange spot, obscured by the white collar of the president's shirt. Here's another one, also by Loeb: ![A profile view of Donald Trump shows a scabby mark on his neck, partially obscured by the collar of his shirt.]() In response to questions, the White House provided a statement attributed to Trump's physician Sean Barbabella. "President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment, prescribed by the White House Doctor," it read. "The President is using this treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks." The White House didn't respond to a request for further details. Netizens have been speculating wildly, with [many suggesting]() that it could be shingles. That infection, which is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, typically causes red, blistered rashes that can lead to long-lasting skin discoloration. Others [suggested]() it could be a result of Trump taking a considerable amount of blood thinners. The octogenarian's right hand also [appeared significantly swollen]() during this morning's event, which may or may not be [related to a mysterious bruise-like mark]() that's been appearing on his right hand since at least as early as last year. The [White House claimed]() the dark mark was the result of him shaking too many hands. However, a similar mark on his left hand, [which was spotted earlier this year](), has undermined that claim. **More on Trump's hand:** [*Trump’s Other Hand Is Also Now Showing a Grisly Mark*]() ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()