President Donald Trump finally addressed months of speculation about his health, specifically the visible bruising on his hands, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Thursday.
Trump finally revealed that he takes a daily dose of aspirin, and attributes the bruising to this medication.
“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump said. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”
The president’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, confirmed to the Journal that Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily for “cardiac prevention.”
According to Mayo Clinic, a low dose of aspirin ranges from 75 to 100 milligrams, with approximately 80 milligrams recommended for preventing heart attacks or strokes.
Trump said he has been taking aspirin for 25 years and is “a little superstitious” about changing a routine he has relied on for decades.
The Journal interview is one of the most detailed conversations Trump has had on his health. The president took to Truth Social on Friday to comment on his health, saying White House doctors have deemed him to be in “PERFECT HEALTH.”
Barbabella also issued a statement saying Trump “remains in exceptional health.”
“President Trump’s medical evaluations and laboratory results continue to show excellent metabolic health, and have revealed his cardiovascular health puts him 14 years younger than his age,” Barbabella said. “Overall, the President remains in exceptional health and perfectly suited to execute his duties as Commander in Chief.”
Trump has long had bruising on his right hand, which appeared before his return to the White House.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed concerns over Trump’s hand bruising in February.
“President Trump has bruises on his hand because he’s constantly working and shaking hands all day every day,” she said.
Leavitt said the bruising was “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin” and called it “a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy.”
Trump became the oldest president to take office when he was inaugurated at age 78 in January 2025. His predecessor, President Joe Biden, left office at 82, making him the oldest president in history — a record Trump is set to surpass during his current term.