Few issues provoke a stronger reaction from President Donald Trump than questions about his physical and mental health. At 79, the oldest person to assume the U.S. presidency, Trump repeatedly asserts that he is in excellent condition and possesses exceptional mental acuity. On Friday, he again claimed on social media that he had passed his latest cognitive test with a perfect score, renewing calls for mandatory cognitive exams for presidential candidates.
Despite these assurances, recent public appearances and disclosures have drawn increased attention. Images from events have shown the president appearing to nod off, while heavy makeup has frequently concealed bruising on his right hand. Trump has acknowledged that he takes a daily aspirin dose four times higher than what his doctors recommend, a practice he says he has followed for 25 years out of “superstition,” even as physicians warn that excessive aspirin use can increase the risk of bleeding and strokes.
Trump has confirmed that he suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a common circulatory condition in older adults, and that he takes medication to control cholesterol. His diet is high in red meat and salt, and he does not follow a formal exercise routine beyond playing golf, his preferred sport. He sleeps little, and aides have occasionally repeated questions or comments to him at public events. The White House maintains that the president remains highly active, noting that he appears before the press more frequently than many of his predecessors.
The president often contrasts his health with that of former president Joe Biden, whom he regularly mocks as “Sleepy Joe,” claiming Biden lacked mental responsiveness while in office. Trump has attributed his own stamina to “excellent genes” and insists that any suggestion of decline is politically motivated. He reacted angrily last month to a New York Times profile that documented signs of aging, including reduced public appearances and visible leg swelling during the past year.
Medical questions intensified after Trump revealed that he underwent advanced imaging at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in October. While initially described as an MRI, Trump and his physician later clarified it was a CT scan performed to rule out vascular problems. Trump said he regretted undergoing the test, arguing that it unnecessarily raised public suspicion about his health.
In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump defended his higher aspirin intake as a personal choice aimed at thinning his blood, despite doctors recommending a much lower dose. He also denied having hearing problems, attributing any missed questions at events to background noise, and rejected claims that he falls asleep in public, saying photographers simply capture him blinking at the wrong moment.
Health-related controversies have followed Trump since his first term. During that period, doctors did not disclose that he had undergone a colonoscopy, and his COVID-19 illness was initially downplayed. The Wall Street Journal also reported that his skin bruises easily, citing an incident in which a ring worn by Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly cut his hand during a handshake at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Trump has been equally candid about his aversion to conventional exercise, calling activities like treadmill workouts “boring.” He said he abandoned compression socks recommended to reduce ankle swelling because he disliked them, opting instead for short walks around the Oval Office.
“There will be a day when I lack energy; it happens to everyone,” Trump said after the New York Times profile was published. “But with a perfect physical exam and a complete cognitive test recently completed, it certainly isn’t now.” As Trump approaches his 80th birthday in June, the debate over his health is likely to remain a central issue in the political spotlight.
