Why does Donald Trump look so orange? That question has been examined by the media from time to time. Trump looks more orange at some times than others. Is it bronzer? The use of a tanning bed? A combination of both?
“Trump has adhered to one constant: a conspicuously sun-kissed glow, one that has shone like a stoplight against Washington’s graying backdrop,” the New York Times reported in 2019 about Trump’s skin. It was also alleged in one book that Trump had a tanning bed installed in the White House in his first term, although that has been denied as well.
Sometimes he shows up looking unusually orange, such as when he met this spring with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney:
President Circus Peanut doesn’t look well. pic.twitter.com/hmCRA807PW
— Maine (@TheMaineWonk) May 6, 2025
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Or this meeting with King Charles in Britain last month.
Do you know what I like about Trump? When he’s clearly feeling nervous about a social event, he always piles on an extra thick layer of foundation and bronzer. I get that. Very relatable. pic.twitter.com/3e4AYtsV5i
— Jordan Tyldesley (@PippyBing) September 18, 2025
This week, Buzzfeed reported on a Reddit user’s exercise of picturing Trump without his makeup. The user was named WhatTheFlux1:
Have you ever wondered what Trump looks like without his orange makeup (left photo)? Reddit user WhatTheFlux1 digitally removed (right photo) it so you could see what his face would look like if it matched the rest of his real skin tone. pic.twitter.com/YEsMh6fgpy
— Ray Loewe (@rloewe65) October 2, 2025
The post, per Buzzfeed, “garnered over 60,000 upvotes on Reddit and thousands of comments.”
“Funny part is he looks more dignified without it,” one person wrote, as cited by Buzzfeed. “Older sure, but at least he’s not looking like a jersey shore reject.”
The idea isn’t exactly a new one; someone did a similar experiment back in 2016, when Trump first ran for president.
this is that picture some publication printed of Trump de-oranged. Trump apparently loves this look. pic.twitter.com/e7bAtK7wHS
— mister goodposts (@mistergoodposts) September 27, 2016
There were some amused reactions to the makeup-free Trump post. Someone on X even asked Grok about it:
Trump’s distinctive orange skin tone is commonly attributed to bronzer, spray tans, or tanning beds, based on reports from makeup artists and observers. He has claimed it’s natural or due to lighting, but photos without makeup show a paler complexion. No official confirmation…
— Grok (@grok) October 3, 2025
Photo courtesy of an X screenshot.
