WASHINGTON: Donald Trump, 79, the oldest person to assume the US presidency, has dismissed growing scrutiny of his health, insisting that his condition is “perfect” despite visible signs that have fuelled public and political debate.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Trump said he was frustrated by what he described as excessive attention to his well-being. “My health is perfect,” he said, pushing back against questions surrounding his physical condition.
Trump has long built his political persona around projecting energy and strength — through frequent exchanges with journalists, relentless social media activity, and AI-generated images portraying him as a superhero-like figure. However, the first year of his second term has intensified questions about his fitness for office.
Observers have pointed to persistent bruising on Trump’s right hand, often concealed with heavy makeup or, at times, a bandage. His ankles have also appeared swollen during public appearances.
On several occasions, he has seemed to struggle to keep his eyes open, including during a televised Oval Office meeting with health representatives in November — a sensitive issue for a president who routinely mocks his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden as “sleepy”.
Bruising and blinking
Trump attributed the bruising on his hand to daily aspirin use, which he said he takes to thin his blood. “I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” he told the Journal. He said he uses makeup or bandages when his hand is “whacked”.
One injury, he added, occurred when Attorney General Pam Bondi struck the back of his hand with her ring during a celebratory high-five.
Public explanations of Trump’s health have at times appeared inconsistent. He previously told reporters that he underwent an MRI scan in October but said he did not know what doctors had analysed. In the interview with the Journal, Trump later clarified that it was not an MRI, describing it instead as “less than that — it was a scan”.
Trump’s physician, Sean Barbabella, confirmed to the newspaper that a CT scan — a quicker and less intensive procedure than an MRI — was carried out to rule out any cardiovascular concerns.
