At a Glance
- Trump revealed he had a CT scan, not an MRI, during an October Walter Reed exam.
- He said the scan gave him “a little ammunition” and he regrets it.
- White House confirms results were normal; he has chronic venous insufficiency and takes daily aspirin.
- Why it matters: It answers public questions about Trump’s health and shows transparency.
President Donald Trump explained the details of a recent health exam in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, revealing he had a CT scan rather than an MRI and addressing concerns about his medical condition. He also discussed his chronic venous insufficiency, daily aspirin use, and his energy levels. The comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of the 79-year-old president’s fitness for office.
Imaging Details
Trump described the October imaging at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as a routine check, but he had originally thought it was an MRI. Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella recommended a CT or MRI to rule out cardiovascular issues, and the results were normal, showing no abnormalities. The president said the scan was quicker than an MRI but offered less tissue detail.
- CT scan: quicker, less detail on tissue differences.
- MRI: more detailed, slower.
- Both used to screen cardiovascular health.
Health Conditions
White House officials confirmed Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where veins in the legs fail to return blood to the heart, causing swelling. He has tried compression socks but stopped due to discomfort. Trump takes 325 mg of aspirin daily, more than doctors recommend, citing long-term use and superstitious habits.
- Swollen ankles and bruised hands.
- Compression socks tried, discontinued.
- Daily aspirin use.
Public Statements
Trump denied falling asleep in meetings, saying he merely rests his eyes or blinks. He claims hearing is fine except in noisy rooms and attributes his energy to genetics. He emphasized that he has never slept much at night and starts his day early, working late into the evening.
President Trump stated:
> “In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition… 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 said:
> “President Trump agreed to meet with the staff and soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in October. In order to make the most of the President’s time at the hospital, we recommended he undergo another routine physical evaluation to ensure continued optimal health.”
Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella added:
> “He asked the president to undergo either a CT scan or MRI to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues, and the results were perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities.”
Karoline Leavitt said:
> “The president’s doctors and the White House have always maintained the President received advanced imaging but said that additional details on the imaging have been disclosed by the President himself because he has nothing to hide.”
President Trump added:
> “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”
President Trump stated:
> “I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me… Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”
Key Takeaways
- Trump confirmed a CT scan, not an MRI, during an October Walter Reed exam.
- Imaging results were normal, and he has chronic venous insufficiency.
- He discusses daily aspirin use, energy levels, and denies sleeping during meetings.
Trump’s comments highlight the president’s willingness to share health details while addressing public concerns about his fitness for office.
