President Donald Trump said he takes a higher daily dose of aspirin than his doctors recommend, attributing the frequently visible bruises on his hands to the medication, according to an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Thursday.
Pushing back against criticism about his health, Trump denied claims that he has fallen asleep during meetings and said his aspirin use is intended to promote heart health.
“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump told the Journal. He said he takes a larger dose than advised and has done so for years. “What it does do is it causes bruising,” he added, noting that he sometimes uses makeup to conceal the marks.
Trump’s physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, confirmed that the president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily for “cardiac prevention.” Aspirin acts as an anticoagulant, helping prevent blood clots that can lead to heart attacks, but it also increases the risk of bleeding and bruising.
At 79, Trump became the oldest person ever sworn in as president when he took office in January 2025. Over the past year, he has repeatedly addressed questions about his health and stamina. In addition to the bruising, Trump has drawn attention for moments in which he appeared to fall asleep during meetings. Speculation also intensified in October after the White House disclosed that he had undergone advanced imaging of his torso.
“In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition,” Trump said of the imaging, referring to a CT scan that he initially described as an MRI. “The fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong.”
Barbabella later explained that Trump had agreed to a routine physical evaluation during a visit to Walter Reed Medical Center and consented to advanced imaging to rule out cardiovascular issues. A CT scan was performed and showed no abnormalities, according to Barbabella.
“President Trump’s medical evaluations and laboratory results continue to show excellent metabolic health,” Barbabella said, adding that the president’s cardiovascular health is comparable to that of someone 14 years younger. “Overall, the President remains in exceptional health and perfectly suited to execute his duties as Commander in Chief.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration’s handling of information about the imaging, saying the president’s physicians consistently maintained that advanced imaging had been conducted. She added that Trump disclosed additional details himself, calling him “the most transparent and open president in history.”
Barbabella also revealed that Trump has been diagnosed with superficial chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that caused swelling in his lower legs earlier this year. Trump said he briefly wore compression socks but stopped because he disliked them.
Health concerns surrounding Trump have taken on added sensitivity following the 2024 election cycle, during which former President Joe Biden’s visible decline ultimately led him to withdraw from the race after a poor debate performance against Trump.
Now back in office, Trump has expressed frustration with ongoing scrutiny of his age and health. “Let’s talk about health again for the 25th time,” he said. “My health is perfect.”
Trump acknowledged that he has asked aides to limit his schedule so he can focus on key meetings. According to the Journal, he typically begins his workday around 10 a.m. and works until 7 or 8 p.m.
An avid golfer, Trump said he does not engage in traditional exercise beyond playing golf. “I just don’t like it. It’s boring,” he said, dismissing treadmill workouts.
Addressing incidents in which he appeared to fall asleep — including during a recent Cabinet meeting — Trump said he was simply resting his eyes.
“I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”
