Bill Clinton wears mysterious nose bandage while cheering daughter Chelsea at NYC marathon

NEWYORK CITY, NEWYORK: Former President Bill Clinton was spotted at the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2, with a bandage on his nose.

He was there to cheer his daughter, Chelsea, who had competed in the race, alongside his wife, Hillary.

Clintons appear at finish line to cheer daughter Chelsea

Bill Clinton appeared at the New York City Marathon finish line on Sunday, November 2 but with a mysterious bandage over the tip of his nose. The 79-year-old former president was quite noticeable in the photographs as he embraced his daughter, Chelsea, 45, after she crossed the finish line. 

Joining Clinton was his wife, Hillary Clinton, 78. It wasn't immediately clear why Clinton had the bandage, but it didn't dampen his spirits as he embraced his daughter at the finish line and cheered her on. 

Over recent years, Clinton's health has remained in the spotlight

Bill Clinton was earlier seen with a Band-Aid on his nose during an appearance at The Headstrong Project’s Annual Gala on Wednesday, October 22. What's most interesting about it is that this bandage was covering the same area where he has previously received treatment for a pre-cancerous lesion. 

The repeated public sighting of that bandage keeps his well-being in the limelight and brings up constant questions regarding the health of the 79-year-old.

In 2021, he was hospitalized after a urinary tract infection spread to his bloodstream, but he recovered after several days of treatment and was discharged "in good condition."

A year later, in 2022, he caught Covid-19. The infection was considered mild, but it nonetheless "renewed concerns about his overall health given his history of cardiac issues." 

Most recently, in August 2025, new fears over his health were sparked when Clinton was photographed leaving an airport accompanied by people carrying what appeared to be a medical device, reportedly a defibrillator. Photographs showed someone walking alongside Bill and Hillary Clinton, carrying the device as the couple exited the airport.

Bill Clinton's history of health concerns

Bill Clinton's appearance with the bandage comes against the backdrop of a health journey that has received significant public attention and includes serious challenges dating back two decades. 

In 2004, the former president underwent successful quadruple bypass surgery after doctors found nearly 100% blockage in some of his arteries. ABC News quoted physicians at the time as saying Clinton "narrowly avoided a major heart attack." In 2005, he had a collapsed lung, adding another serious episode to his medical history.