Why Donald Trump’s Orange Glow Still Sparks Debate

Donald Trump’s famously orange face has long fueled speculation, but fresh theories are now giving the mystery new life. The 79-year-old former president has denied using spray tans or heavy makeup, with aides even crediting his complexion to “good genes.” Yet photo editor Emily Elsie isn’t convinced.

On Instagram, Elsie compared Trump’s skin tone before and after his 2024 debate with Joe Biden. “In July, he looked one way… now he looks completely different,” she wrote, noting wild shifts depending on lighting.

Her theory? Stress. “The more pressure Trump faces, the heavier the bronzer,” Elsie explained. She also pointed out a strange new detail: makeup on his hands.

Trump’s team blames his discoloration on “handshakes” and a vein condition, but Elsie insists the changes mirror campaign intensity.

“He looks darker at the peak of elections,” she said. “It’s not vanity—it’s strategy.”

Trump’s glow remains one of politics’ oddest obsessions.