It has always been somewhat of a secret what Donald Trump does for his makeup. People have been curious about his well-known orange glow for years. We can no longer ignore it and appear to be talking about it all the time. What’s actually happening beneath all of that makeup? For Trump, making a message is more important than simply maintaining a particular appearance. His entire appearance has become as well-known as his political opinions. Trump must simply “dips a pillow in cheese dust and just starts whacking himself in the face with it,” as Jimmy Kimmel famously joked, but there’s more to it than that. He obviously invests a lot of time in enhancing his image and making sure every aspect of it is distinctive.
Look close at this unedited photo; it’s Trump apparently without makeup. Could this explain why he paints his face? He look like he’s 90 years old. Nobody should be age shaming anyone, getting old happens to the luckiest of us. But, we all need to admit age does change our… pic.twitter.com/dj0ioGbvPa
— Fuck Trump Vance (@FuckTrumpVance) August 23, 2024
Sometimes beneath that bronzed skin, a more delicate side shows through. In July 2022, Trump was spotted playing golf without his usual makeup. The resulting face was red and blotchy, a far cry from the polished public image we are used to. Experts think it could be rosacea, which his former doctor, Dr. Harold Bornstein, mentioned in 2017. But color isn’t the only important factor. Trump appears to enjoy using the Swiss company Bronx Colors charity. Housekeepers were allegedly enraged when rust stains appeared on his shirt collars. His grooming care—or lack of it—really shows in the little details. Then there was that viral photo from January 2024. The one taken at an event in Iowa where Trump looked way older. People on social media lost it asking how old he was and if he was still fit to be president. Websites like Snopes and photojournalist Tannen Maury confirmed that the photo was real and not edited.
Name this foundation shade. pic.twitter.com/jmyTTifZHS
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) January 24, 2024
Trump has been rather candid about his appearance, at times even making jokes about it. “I always look orange,” he said back in 2019, attributing his orange tinge to energy-efficient lightbulbs. “So do you! The worst thing is the brightness” combining a little deflection with humor. Even his hair has generated a lot of conversation. Strong gusts once exposed his balding scalp on Air Force One in February 2018, completely ruining his famous hair. These brief encounters reveal a more genuine, unpolished side of him and break through the tough exterior he has developed. These makeup blunders were a hit with the Lincoln Project, a group of conservatives who dislike Trump. When they invited people to “Name this foundation shade,” they turned his appearance into a political parody in a January photo that went viral.
At the heart of these makeup discussions lies a complex narrative about image, perception, and the lengths to which public figures will go to control their public persona. Trump’s makeup routine isn’t just about concealing—it’s about constructing an identity, a shield against perceived vulnerabilities. As Trump continues his political journey, these makeup moments serve as more than just comedic interludes. They’re revealing snapshots of a man constantly performing, constantly curating, and perpetually aware of the public gaze.
