CNN – President Donald Trump told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Thursday that he takes a higher dose of aspirin than his doctors have recommended, blaming that for the visible hand bruises that have generated renewed questions about his health.
“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump, 79, said of why he takes a larger dose. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”
“They’d rather have me take the smaller one,” Trump added. “I take the larger one, but I’ve done it for years, and what it does do is it causes bruising.”
The interview appeared to be one of the most extensive conservations Trump has had with journalists on his health, as scrutiny has intensified this year over his age, fitness for office and whether he’s being sufficiently transparent with his medical information.
Trump has long had bruising on his right hand, which CNN has reported predated his return to the White House. But it drew more attention after he began trying to cover it with heavy makeup and bandages and shield it from cameras with his other hand.
Observers have also raised concerns about swelling in his legs and his appearing to doze during public events.
The president took to Truth Social on Friday to again comment on his health following the publication of the interview, saying White House doctors have deemed him to be in “PERFECT HEALTH.”
The interview with the Journal, and the subsequent social media post, underscore how invested the president is in defending his health after he spent much of the 2024 presidential election campaign attacking his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, for his own health issues.
Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, told the Journal that the president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily …
