'Superstitious' Trump says he takes more aspirin than his doctors want
- - 'Superstitious' Trump says he takes more aspirin than his doctors want
Zac Anderson, USA TODAY January 2, 2026 at 12:08 AM
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President Donald Trump said in a new interview that he takes a higher daily dose of aspirin than his doctors recommend, continuing the dosage because he has taken it for years and is "superstitious."
"They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart," Trump told the Wall Street Journal. "I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?"
The president also denied falling asleep at meetings, described exercise other than golf as "boring" and said he actually underwent a CT scan, not an MRI, during a recent exam, speaking to the Journal about his health amid recent public speculation.
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U.S. President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 2, 2025.
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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2, 2025.
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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2, 2025.
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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., Dec. 2, 2025.
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1 / 7Trump caught dozing off in cabinet meetingUS President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet Meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2, 2025.
The Journal’s reporting on Trump’s health and signs of aging prompted an "impromptu" interview with the president, who "expressed irritation" at the debate around the topic.
"My health is perfect," Trump told the Journal.
Trump, 79, is the oldest person elected president, and his health has been in the spotlight.
In July, the White House disclosed that Trump was experiencing swelling in his lower legs and bruising on his right hand after photographs showed the president with swollen ankles and makeup covering the afflicted part of his hand. Trump attributes the bruising to his aspirin consumption, according to the Journal, and his doctors have encouraged a lower dose.
Trump's doctor, Sean Barbabella, told the Journal that Trump's aspirin use is for "cardiac prevention" and he takes 325 milligrams a day. Aspirin can help prevent blood clots by thinning the blood and may decrease the risk of heart attack or stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic, which describes a low dose as between 75 and 100 milligrams and says "daily dose for aspirin therapy is usually between 75 mg and 325 mg."
Barbabella said in a letter released by the White House last year that Trump's leg swelling was the result of "chronic venous insufficiency," a benign and common condition especially in people over 70.
The bruised right hand of U.S. President Donald Trump is visible during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Oval Office, at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 25, 2025.
The president had two medical exams in 2025, in April and October. The report from the October exam said he underwent "advanced imaging" but did not disclose the results of the imaging. Trump later said he had an MRI.
But the president and Barbabella told the Journal he actually had a CT scan. Barbabella said in a statement to the Journal that doctors told Trump he would either get a CT scan or an MRI and decided on the CT scan "to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues."
"It wasn’t an MRI," Trump told the Journal. "It was less than that. It was a scan."
The Journal also reported that Trump’s aides have encouraged him to keep his eyes open during events. The president has shut his eyes for stretches during public appearances, including during a Dec. 2 Cabinet meeting, prompting questions about whether he was dozing off, which the president denied.
"I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me," Trump told the Journal, adding: "Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink."
President Donald Trump attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 2, 2025.
Amid questions about his health and energy level, Trump has maintained a rigorous public schedule as president. He also is an avid and frequent golfer, but expressed disdain for other forms of exercise.
"I just don’t like it. It’s boring," Trump said. "To walk on a treadmill or run on a treadmill for hours and hours like some people do, that’s not for me."
Contributing: Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'My health is perfect' Trump says in new interview amid speculation
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