“They say aspirin is good for thinning the blood, but I don’t want thick blood to flow into the heart,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal.
Trump appeared to nod during the cabinet meeting.
During the three-hour cabinet meeting, Donald Trump’s eyes were very heavy. Press seconds. “I’m listening carefully,” said Caroline Leavitt.
President Donald Trump says in a new interview that he takes more aspirin each day than his doctor recommends, and that he continues to take it because he’s been taking it for years and is “superstitious.”
“They say aspirin is good for thinning the blood, but I don’t want thick blood to flow into the heart,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal. “I want thin, good blood flowing through my heart. Does that make sense?”
The president also spoke to Barron’s about his health amid recent public speculation, denying that he fell asleep in meetings, calling any exercise other than golf “boring,” and saying that he actually had a CT scan instead of an MRI during a recent test.
The newspaper’s report on Trump’s health and signs of aging led to an “impromptu” interview with the president, who “expressed frustration” with the discussion on the subject.
President Trump told the newspaper, “My health is perfect.”
At 79 years old, Trump is the oldest person ever elected president, and his health has been a focus of attention.
In July, the White House revealed that Trump was experiencing swelling in his lower legs and bruising on his right hand after he was photographed with a swollen ankle and an affected area on his hand covered in makeup. The newspaper said President Trump blamed the bruises on taking aspirin, and that doctors recommended reducing the dose.
Trump’s doctor, Sean Barbavera, told the Journal that Trump’s use of aspirin is for “heart prophylaxis,” and that he takes 325 milligrams a day. The Mayo Clinic says that aspirin helps prevent blood clots by thinning the blood, which may reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and that low doses range from 75 to 100 milligrams.
In a letter released by the White House last year, Barbabella said the swelling in President Trump’s legs was due to “chronic venous insufficiency,” a benign condition that is especially common in people over 70.
The president underwent medical examinations twice in 2025, in April and October. The medical report from October states that he underwent an “advanced imaging test,” but the results of the imaging test were not disclosed. Trump said he then underwent an MRI scan.
However, the president and Barbabella told the Journal that he actually underwent a CT scan. Barbabella said in a statement to the Journal that doctors told Trump he would undergo either a CT scan or an MRI, and that they opted for the CT scan “to ensure we rule out any cardiovascular issues.”
“It wasn’t an MRI,” Trump told the Journal. “It was less than that. It was a scan.”
The newspaper also reported that Trump’s aides encouraged him to keep his eyes open during the event. The president has been seen stretching with his eyes closed in public, including during a cabinet meeting on December 2, leading to questions about whether he was dozing off, a question he denied.
“I’m done. It’s very relaxing,” Trump told the newspaper, adding, “Sometimes they’ll take pictures of me blinking and they’ll catch me blinking.”
Trump has maintained a rigorous public schedule as president, despite questions about his health and energy levels. He is also an avid and frequent golfer, although he has expressed disdain for other forms of exercise.
“I just don’t like it. It’s boring,” Trump said. “Walking or running on a treadmill for hours on end like some people is not for me.”
Contributed by: Reuters
