CNN interrupted its live coverage to cut to the White House, where President Donald Trump held a press conference on Monday.

It was the president’s first appearance before reporters since the weekend’s strike on Iran, but it was his physical appearance that drew immediate attention.

Health concerns surrounding Trump have resurfaced after he was spotted with a vivid red rash on the right side of his neck.

During a Medal of Freedom ceremony at the White House, photographs revealed what appeared to be a large, inflamed rash and scabs on the right side of the 79 year old president’s neck, extending from his ear to the back of his head.

His physician has since stepped forward to address the issue. In a statement to CNN, White House doctor Dr. Sean Barbabella dismissed concerns about the irritation, attributing it to a “preventative skin treatment”.

“President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment,” Dr. Sean Barbabella said in a statement. “The President is using the treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks.”

Barbabella declined to elaborate on the specific reason behind Trump’s need for the skin treatment, and the White House failed to respond promptly to inquiries regarding his condition.

As the oldest president ever to be sworn into office, Trump’s health has faced increasing scrutiny in recent months, following reports of recurring bruising on the backs of both hands and swollen ankles.

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White House officials attempted to downplay concerns by attributing the hand bruises to “frequent handshaking.”

Yet, Trump revealed to The Wall Street Journal in January that the bruising results from consuming a higher aspirin dosage than physicians advise, a practice he’s maintained for years.

Questions surrounding the president’s mental sharpness have emerged after footage showed him with closed eyes during Cabinet sessions and whilst in the Oval Office, though the president explained this stems from limited sleep.

“I’ve never been a big sleeper,” he informed the Journal, noting that he simply shuts his eyes for relaxation.

“Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink,” he continued.

At Monday’s gathering, Trump discussed the US-Israeli confrontation with Iran and declared he “won’t get bored”.

“There’s nothing boring about it,” he stated. “Somebody from the media said, ‘I’ll think he’ll get bored.'”.

He continued, “I never get bored. If I ever get bored I wouldn’t be standing here. I guarantee you that.”

The confrontation has now entered its fourth day, with the Red Crescent reporting that 787 people have been killed since US-Israeli attacks commenced.

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