Summary: President Trump told The Wall Street Journal he is in "perfect health" while describing how he manages chronic venous insufficiency, ongoing daily aspirin use, and recent imaging that he says was a CT scan showing normal cardiovascular and abdominal results. He denied nodding off in meetings, acknowledged late-night habits that limit sleep, and reiterated that he has passed cognitive exams — urging mandatory testing for presidential candidates.
Trump Pushes Back on Health Questions: Key Takeaways on Age, Aspirin Use, CT Scan and Sleep Habits
Trump tries to beat back questions about health: Key takeaways
President Donald J. Trump spoke with The Wall Street Journal in one of his most candid interviews about his age and how he manages his health. At 79, the oldest U.S. president in office, Trump defended his choices — some of which differ from his doctors’ recommendations — and clarified details about recent exams and treatments.
Diagnosis and Leg Swelling
Last July the White House disclosed that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition in which impaired venous blood flow leads to venous hypertension and leg swelling. The president briefly tried compression socks but told the Journal he "didn't like them" and now says he eases swelling by getting up and walking more frequently.
Aspirin Routine and Medical Guidance
Trump said he has taken a 325 mg aspirin daily for about 25 years and believes it helps explain why he bruises easily. Although his physicians urged him to lower the dose, he declined, calling himself "a little superstitious."
"They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don't want thick blood pouring through my heart," he told the Journal. "I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?"
Medical guidance has changed: in 2022 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against starting low-dose aspirin for primary prevention in adults older than 60, concluding the harms can outweigh benefits in that age group. A task-force microsimulation found that initiating aspirin in people aged 70–79 "results in a loss of both quality-adjusted life-years and life-years at essentially all CVD risk levels."
October Imaging: CT, Not MRI
The president clarified that an October exam described earlier as "advanced imaging" was a CT scan, not an MRI. White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella said the imaging — ordered to evaluate cardiovascular and abdominal health in a man of Trump's age — returned "perfectly normal" results for those systems.
Sleep, Meetings and Late-Night Habits
Video from a recent Cabinet meeting showed Trump with his eyes closed, prompting suggestions he had nodded off. He denied falling asleep, saying he sometimes closes his eyes because it is relaxing. He also acknowledged difficulty falling asleep, often texting and calling aides until 2 a.m., and said he is not a big sleeper.
Health officials note that adults over 65 should aim for seven to eight hours of sleep; chronic sleep deficiency is associated with increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity and depression.
Cognitive Testing
Trump boasted on Truth Social that he "aced" a cognitive exam for the third straight time and urged mandatory cognitive testing for presidential and vice-presidential candidates. He has publicly said he scored perfectly on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), while critics and some journalists have questioned aspects of his recall in interviews.
Bottom Line
Trump presented himself as healthy and contested suggestions that his age impairs his performance. He remains at odds with some medical recommendations — notably the continued daily 325 mg aspirin — and emphasized normal cardiovascular and abdominal imaging. Observers and physicians continue to assess how age and health choices may affect a sitting president's stamina and decision-making.
Reporting details are based on statements to The Wall Street Journal, a White House physician memo, guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and standard sleep-health recommendations from public health authorities.
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