A photograph of President Donald Trump appearing to put a small blue tablet in his mouth while attending the U.S. Open men's final on Sept. 7 has gone viral and prompted widespread online speculation about his health and the nature of the object.
The image, taken during the match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, shows the 79-year-old president with a blue, rectangular tablet held between his teeth as he smirks in the stands. The photograph, taken by Andres Kudacki, circulated on social media and drew immediate attention; Kudacki told the Daily Beast he had been “waiting for some reaction from him” and that Trump had been “very discreet.” The match was briefly delayed because of security concerns related to the president’s presence, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was visible seated nearby.
Users on X and other platforms speculated about the object’s identity, suggesting possibilities that ranged from a breath mint to prescription medication. Some social media posts joked it could be an erectile dysfunction drug such as Viagra or an oral chew, while others suggested it resembled Hygroton, a square blue pill prescribed for high blood pressure and edema. Supporters of the president pointed out the tablet’s resemblance to blue Altoids Smalls wintergreen mints and urged caution against jumping to medical conclusions.
X’s AI assistant GROK responded to one user that the object was unidentified, saying speculation included a mint or a pill like Hygroton and noting that no official confirmation existed. The photographer also acknowledged uncertainty about the object when discussing the photograph.
The photograph arrived amid heightened public scrutiny of Trump’s health. In recent weeks, the president has been photographed with bruising on his hand and with noticeably swollen ankles. Last month, White House press secretary Leavitt publicly confirmed that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition more common in older adults, and said the hand bruising was consistent with irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin. White House officials have said the president’s swollen ankles are related to that diagnosis. The president did not hold public events at the White House for four days in the period following those images; aides said he spent the time away from cameras playing golf with family.
There has been no official statement from the White House confirming what the blue object was. Media outlets that published the photograph and accounts of the social media reaction said they sought comment from the White House but had not received a definitive explanation at the time of publication.
The photograph underscores the rapid spread of speculation on social platforms when a public figure is seen with an unidentified object, and it highlights how health-related images of public officials can quickly become fodder for both serious inquiry and partisan commentary. Journalists and officials have noted the importance of confirming facts before attributing medical significance to a single image.