CNN issues Donald Trump alert as doctor breaks silence on medical condition

CNN paused their live coverage and headed to the White House where Donald Trump delivered a press conference on Monday. The US president was speaking to reporters for the first time since this weekend's attack on Iran but it was his appearance that raised eyebrows.

Trump's health has sparked concerns once again after he was seen with a bright red rash on the right side of his neck. During a Medal of Freedom event at the White House photos showed what looked like a large, red rash and scabs on the right side of the 79-year-old president’s neck that spread from his ear to the back of his head.

His doctor has since addressed his condition. Speaking to CNN, White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella excused the irritation in a statement, saying he is using 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 did not specify why Trump needed the skin treatment, and the White House did not immediately respond to questions about his condition.

Trump is the oldest president to take the oath of office and his health has come under scrutiny in recent months after he also dealt with periodic bruising on the back of both his hands as well as swollen ankles.

White House officials tried to ease concerns by blaming the hand bruises on “frequent handshaking.” However, Trump told The Wall Street Journal in January that the bruises come from taking a higher dose of aspirin than doctors recommend, which he has done for years.

The president's cognitive health has been called into question as he has been filmed with his eyes shut during Cabinet meetings and in the Oval Office, although the president clarified he often doesn't get a lot of sleep.

“I’ve never been a big sleeper,” he told the Journal, adding that he just closes his eyes to relax.

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

During the event on Monday, Trump addressed the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and admitted he "won't get bored".

"There's nothing boring about it," he remarked. "Somebody from the media said, 'I'll think he'll get bored.'"

He added, "I never get bored. If I ever get bored I wouldn't be standing here. I guarantee you that."

The conflict has entered its fourth day and the number of people killed since US-Israeli attacks began has reached 787, the Red Crescent says.