WASHINGTON — White House officials explained Monday that a prominent red mark visible on President Trump’s neck comes from a preventative skin treatment he’s currently using, though they declined to provide additional specifics about the medical condition being addressed.
The discolored area became a topic of widespread discussion after news photographers took detailed shots of the president’s neck area during Monday’s Medal of Honor presentation ceremony held in the White House East Room.
White House physician Sean Barbabella issued a statement saying, “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. The President is using this treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks.”
Officials have not answered additional inquiries about the specific medication being used, the start date of the treatment, or the particular condition being prevented. However, detailed photographs from previous events, including a White House gathering on February 23 — one day prior to the State of the Union speech — show similar discoloration in the same neck area.
Medical records from Trump’s April 2025 health examination indicated he was using mometasone cream on an as-needed basis for a skin issue that was not further detailed.
At 79 years old, Trump holds the distinction of being the oldest individual to assume the presidency when he took office this past January. Due to his age, medical professionals and the public maintain heightened attention on his health status.
In December, Barbabella reported that Trump underwent MRI scans of his heart and abdominal area in October as standard preventative care for men in his age group, with all results coming back as “perfectly normal.” The October examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center concluded that Trump maintains “exceptional health” overall, the physician stated.
