White House blames lighting for Trump's fuller-looking hair at Las Vegas event

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The White House attributed the fuller, brighter appearance of US President Donald Trump's hair at a Las Vegas event to on-stage LED lighting, drawing renewed attention to a long-running discussion about his distinctive hairstyle. Speaking to reporters, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said "lighting changes everything," responding to social media users who circulated side-by-side images comparing Trump's hair at the Red Rock Resort and Casino appearance with photos from earlier days. Journalist Aaron Rupar was among those who posted about the apparent change in volume, with users questioning whether Trump had adopted a different styling method or was wearing a hairpiece. The comparison photos quickly circulated online, fueling speculation about the cause of the noticeably thicker, golden-blond look during the program. Trump's signature hairstyle, swept forward and pulled back, has drawn public scrutiny for years. Biographer Harry Hurt III wrote in 1989 that Trump had undergone scalp-reduction surgery to address baldness, a claim that has followed the president throughout his public life. Trump addressed the topic directly in a 2008 interview, insisting his hair was real and describing a routine in which he brushes it after a shower and applies spray, a process he said takes about 20 minutes. The White House has not elaborated beyond Leavitt's lighting explanation, and the president himself has not commented on the latest photographs.