@Jeruba I guess I meant “many” since photoshopping was introduced. I also am thinking in my lifetime, not since Washington.
I’m in agreement with the vanity statement. Not just vanity for attractiveness, but also concern about looking powerful from what I can tell. I haven’t listened much to what they are saying about what is altered on his image, but the one spot I saw on TV was he looked thinner and his hand larger as mentioned by the OP.
It seemed to me to try to draw comparisons to Hitler’s obsession with showing a powerful image, but I didn’t hear the particular news report say that. I don’t like using Hitler comparisons, as you might know, but Hitler did photo shoots to try to make himself seem taller, and in charge. The fist up high in the air is often discussed, and some other photos. Hitler has been analyzed to death of course.
I’m not sure if it’s all Trump himself, or the people around him. Trump has said over and over he likes his hair, and other attributes he possesses.