In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump spoke in defense of his health and energy levels, revealing that during an October medical exam—details of which he and the White House had delayed sharing—he underwent a CT scan rather than an MRI.
Trump, in the interview published on Thursday, stated he regretted undergoing advanced imaging of his heart and abdomen during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, as it sparked public speculation about his health. His physician noted in a memo released by the White House in December that the “advanced imaging” was conducted as a preventive screening for a man of his age.
Trump but mentioned he was unaware of which part of his body was scanned. A CT scan is a faster diagnostic imaging method than an MRI but provides less detailed differentiation between tissues.
The president’s doctor, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, explained in a statement released by the White House on Thursday that Trump underwent the October exam because he had planned to visit Walter Reed to meet staff members there. Trump had
“President Trump agreed to meet with staff and service members at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in October. To make the most of the President’s time at the facility, we suggested he undergo another routine physical assessment to ensure he remained in optimal health,” Barbabella said.
Barbabella added that he recommended the president undergo either a CT scan or MRI “to conclusively rule out any cardiovascular issues,” and the results were “completely normal, showing no abnormalities whatsoever.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated in a Thursday release that the president’s doctors and the White House “have always maintained the President received advanced imaging” but noted that “additional details about the imaging have been shared by the President himself” because he “has nothing to hide.”
“In hindsight, it’s a shame I had it done because it gave them a bit of fodder,” Trump said in the . “I would have been much better off without it, because the fact that I had the scan led people to think, ‘Oh, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing is wrong.”
The 79-year-old became the oldest person to take the presidential oath when he was inaugurated last year and has been sensitive to questions about his health, particularly as he has repeatedly questioned his predecessor Joe Biden’s fitness for office.
Biden, who turned 82 during his final year in office, faced persistent scrutiny over his age and mental sharpness toward the end of his term and during his unsuccessful reelection bid.
However, questions about Trump’s health have also emerged this year, with noticeable bruising on the back of his right hand—visible despite heavy makeup—and swelling in his ankles drawing attention.
The White House announced this summer that the president had been diagnosed with , a common condition among older adults. This condition occurs when leg veins fail to properly return blood to the heart, causing it to pool in the lower legs.
In the interview, Trump said he briefly tried wearing compression socks to address the swelling but stopped because he disliked them.
According to Leavitt, the bruising on Trump’s hand stems from “frequent handshaking and aspirin use,” as Trump regularly takes aspirin to lower his risk of heart attack and stroke.
He revealed he takes more aspirin than his doctors advise but has resisted reducing his dosage, citing a 25-year habit and describing himself as “a little superstitious.” Barbabella confirmed Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily.
“They say aspirin helps thin the blood, and I don’t want thick blood flowing through my heart,” Trump said. “I want nice, thin blood flowing through my heart. Does that make sense?”
Trump denied falling asleep during White House meetings in the interview, instead asserting he was simply resting his eyes or blinking.
“I’ll just close them. It’s very relaxing for me,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll take a photo of me blinking, blinking, and catch me in the middle of a blink.”
He noted he has never slept much at night , adding that he starts his day early in the White House residence before moving to the Oval Office around 10 a.m. and working until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.
The president dismissed concerns about his hearing, stating he only struggles to hear “when there are a lot of people talking,” and emphasized his high energy levels, which he attributed to his genetics.
“Genetics are very important,” he said. “And I have very good genetics.”