Photographer explains why Trump’s use of bronzer is worsened by stress

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Stay ahead with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

A photographer has explained the mystery behind former President Donald Trump’s varying use of bronzer.

Businessman and brown tones Home alone 2 star has come under much scrutiny throughout his political career, with countless memes dissecting their color range.

American photographer Emily Elsie shared her theory behind the ever-changing color palettes, explaining that she believes the intensity of the hue is directly related to the politician’s stress levels.

While photos of Trump’s tan lines have sparked ridicule, similar to ridicule over J.D. Vance’s alleged use of eyeliner, she said the issue was no laughing matter.

“Why is no one addressing this very important data point,” Elsie wrote in a series of viral Instagram stories.

“In July 2024, this is what Donald Trump looked like…” she said, sharing a photo of Trump shortly after his assassination attempt. “And now he looks like this,” she added alongside a recent photo of the entrepreneur giving a speech.

“We need to talk about the bronzer,” she began. “I used to think that the problem with Trump’s ‘skin tone’ was mainly a matter of photo retouching – or a photographer’s choice of color balance.

“I noticed that Trump’s skin tone tended to fluctuate wildly depending on the lighting and the photographer’s color palettes.

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“In a ‘cool’ light, Trump’s bronzer is less intense. A slightly warmer tone makes Trump’s ‘skin color’ go crazy and orange.”

She explained that for years she had thought that Trump’s changing tan was a choice made mainly for the TV audience.

“But lately I’ve been feeling like there’s something more psychological going on,” she continued. “When Trump took office in 2017, he was significantly less orange… but as his term progressed, more bronzer was applied.

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‘The more stress… the more make-up. And when they were out of the office, the makeup only reappeared in front of the cameras. But it was mainly toned down. Then something interesting happened. After Trump’s debate with Biden in June 2024, the makeup all but disappears.

“When Trump was in the polls and victory was almost certain, the bronzer was gone.”

She then shared a very recent photo in which the former president looked noticeably darker.

“Believe me when I tell you, we’ve never seen him like this,” she said. “Besides, it looks like he’s doing his hands right now?”

She also noted that the “mask” of makeup tends to “get darker toward the end of his presidential campaigns.”

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For Elsie, however, the issue is no laughing matter as she asked followers to stop DMing her about how ‘stupid’ he looks.

“I don’t think he looks weird, I think he looks trapped,” she said. “He acts just like us when we are a) isolated b) insecure c) surrounded by pictures of ourselves”.

The posts were reshared on X/Twitter, where they were viewed more than 26 million times in less than 24 hours.

Trump has repeatedly denied claims that he uses fake tanning and bronzing lotions, and an official in his administration has attributed his skin color to “good genes.”