Image: keystone
Jan 1, 2026, 10:39 p.mJan 1, 2026, 10:39 p.m
Reports about the health of US President Donald Trump have sparked a renewed debate in the USA: Are these normal signs of aging for a 79-year-old or warning signs of an overworked head of state? Now the Republican has once again taken a position on it himself.
In one Interview with the Wall Street Journal Trump admitted that he had been taking a higher daily dose of aspirin for years than doctors recommended. He said:
“They say aspirin is good for thinning the blood, and I don’t want thick blood flowing through my heart.”
Donald Trump
He was “a little superstitious”. However, taking it causes him to bruise easily. Trump had tried to hide this cosmetically several times in the past.
When Justice Minister Pam Bondi brushed him with a ring on the back of his hand at a recent event, he also suffered a small cut. Together with swelling on Trump’s ankles, this led to renewed speculation in the US media about the president’s health.
Doctors attest to good health
In the fall, Trump had a medical examination carried out, as he confirmed to the WSJ. This was a computer tomography (CT), an imaging body scan, which showed no abnormalities, according to a statement from his doctor to the newspaper.
Trump’s doctor explained that the scan was only carried out to “definitely rule out” possible cardiovascular problems and that the president was fully capable of working. He takes aspirin purely as a preventive measure. The White House also said the president was in “excellent health.” In the interview, Trump nevertheless expressed regret about the investigation: Looking back, it was a “shame” to agree to it because it had triggered public speculation.
High workload despite age and lifestyle
According to his own statements, Trump sleeps little and starts his working days early. Observers recently reported that he sometimes closed his eyes during public meetings. The president rejected reports in the Wall Street Journal that he had fallen asleep. He spoke of moments of relaxation or boredom.
According to his own statements, the Republican does not do any sports on a regular basis – with the exception of golf. His diet is considered high in calories, fat and salt; a Republican traveling companion recently expressed shock at the amount of highly processed food he saw the president eating, as the “WSJ” describes. He didn’t want to change anything about that, Trump said in an interview. He has “good genes” and a lot of energy.
Public image cultivation
The discussion is reminiscent of previous debates about the age of political leaders, debates that Trump himself often initiated. He repeatedly expressed doubts about his predecessor Joe Biden’s ability to hold office. When he took office, he was only a few months younger than Trump is today.
Against this background, too, Trump clearly attaches importance to the public presentation of his health. The president admitted to using makeup to cover up injuries or bruises. According to media reports, employees are also careful to shorten presentations and avoid public images that could suggest that the president is tired or in poor health.
The doctor Mehmet Oz told the Wall Street Journal that Trump seemed mentally present and confident in complex topics. Political decisions can be discussed – he sees no signs of mental limitations. (sda/dpa)