President Trump Clarifies Health Details, Defends Energy Levels in New Interview

President Donald Trump has addressed ongoing speculation about his health, revealing in a Wall Street Journal interview that he underwent a CT scan, not an MRI, during an October medical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The 79-year-old president expressed regret over having the preventative screening, suggesting it inadvertently fueled public concern about his well-being. “In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition,” Trump told the Journal. “I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t, because the fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong.”

Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, the president’s physician, issued a statement Thursday clarifying that the examination was conducted to “definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues” while Trump was already visiting Walter Reed to meet with staff and soldiers. According to Barbabella, the results were “perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities.” The White House noted that Trump had already completed his annual physical examination in April.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized transparency around the president’s health. “The president’s doctors and the White House have always maintained the President received advanced imaging,” Leavitt said, adding that Trump “has nothing to hide.”

Health scrutiny has intensified for Trump, who became the oldest person to take the presidential oath when he was sworn in last year. His predecessor, Joe Biden, who turned 82 during his final year in office, faced persistent questions about his age and cognitive abilities during his abandoned reelection campaign.

Public attention has focused on visible signs of potential health concerns, including noticeable bruising on the back of Trump’s right hand—often partially concealed with makeup—and swelling around his ankles. The White House previously disclosed that Trump suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition among older adults that occurs when leg veins struggle to properly return blood to the heart, causing it to pool in the lower extremities.

In the interview, Trump acknowledged briefly trying compression socks to address the swelling but discontinued their use because he found them uncomfortable. Regarding the hand bruising, Leavitt attributed it to “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” which the president takes daily to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Trump revealed he takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily—more than his doctors recommend—but has resisted reducing the dosage after 25 years of use, citing superstition. “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” he explained. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart.”

The president also disputed reports that he has fallen asleep during White House meetings when cameras have captured him with closed eyes. “I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me,” Trump explained. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”

Consistent with statements from his first term, Trump described his sleep habits as minimal, stating he begins his day early in the White House residence before moving to the Oval Office around 10 a.m. and working until 7 or 8 p.m. He dismissed concerns about his hearing, acknowledging difficulties only “when there’s a lot of people talking,” and attributed his energy levels to genetic factors.

“Genetics are very important,” the president stated. “And I have very good genetics.”

The disclosure comes amid heightened attention to presidential health and fitness, with both major parties scrutinizing candidates’ physical and mental capabilities as crucial factors in assessing their ability to handle the demanding role of commander-in-chief.