Photographer explains why Trump’s use of bronzer gets worse with stress

On By Littum

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

The businessman’s tan tones and Home Alone 2 star has been under a lot of scrutiny throughout her 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 hue is directly correlated to the politician’s stress levels.

Although photographs of Trump’s tan lines have led to ridicule, similar to mockery of JD Vance’s alleged use of eyeliner, she said the issue was no laughing matter.

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

“In July 2024, Donald Trump looked like this…” she said as she shared 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 color’ was primarily a matter of photo retouching – aka a photographer’s choice in color balancing.

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

Emily Elsie believes the Republican politician is increasing his use of bronzer as he is more stressed

Emily Elsie believes the Republican politician is increasing his use of bronzer as he is more stressed (Getty Images)

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

She explained that for years she had believed that Trump’s changing tan was a choice made primarily for television audiences.

“But lately I feel like there’s something more psychological going on,” she continued. “When Trump took office in 2017, he was significantly less orange… but as his tenure progressed, more bronze was used.

Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House on February 7, 2020

Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House on February 7, 2020 (EPA)

“The more stressed… the more makeup. And when you weren’t in the office, the makeup would only reappear for the cameras. But it was mostly toned down. Then something interesting happened. After Trump’s debate with Biden in June 2024, the makeup will almost disappear.

“When Trump was up in the polls and a win was almost certain, the bronzer was gone.”

She then shared a very recent photo of the former president looking noticeably darker.

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

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

Trump speaks to the media at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. His visit was meant to poke fun at Biden, but had the unintended effect of reminding people where

Trump speaks to the media at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. His visit was meant to poke fun at Biden, but had the unintended effect of reminding people where the “garbage” veil originated (Getty Images)

But for Elsie, the question is no laughing matter as she asked followers to stop DMing her about how “stupid” he looks.

“I don’t think he looks silly, I think he looks trapped,” she said. “He behaves just like we do when we are a) isolated b) insecure c) surrounded by images of ourselves”.

The posts were forwarded to X/Twitter where they have a total of over 26 million views, in less than 24 hours.

Trump has repeatedly denied allegations that he uses fake tans and tanning creams, and an official in his administration has put his complexion down to “good genes.”