US President Donald Trump has said he finds conventional exercise routines “boring,” even as doctors continue to emphasise the importance of staying physically active with age.
“I just don’t like it. It’s boring,” Trump told The Wall Street Journal, referring to treadmill workouts. “To walk on a treadmill or run on a treadmill for hours and hours like some people do, that’s not for me.”
The 79-year-old Republican leader said he considers golf to be his primary form of exercise. “My ‘exercise’ is playing, almost never during the week, a quick round of golf,” he had earlier told reporters.
Trump also addressed questions around his health and medication use, revealing that he takes a daily 325-milligram aspirin—significantly higher than the 81 milligrams commonly recommended by doctors. “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” he said. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”
He acknowledged that doctors have advised him to take a lower dose. “They’d rather have me take the smaller one,” Trump said, adding that he has continued with the higher dose for years despite experiencing bruising. “What it does do is it causes bruising.”
According to the CNN report, the bruising, evident on his right hand, has drawn public attention in recent months, especially after Trump appeared to cover it with makeup or bandages during public appearances. The White House has previously attributed the marks to frequent handshaking combined with regular aspirin use.
Medical experts, however, have expressed concern. Aspirin can help prevent blood clots, but higher doses increase the risk of bleeding without offering added benefit. In recent years, guidelines have moved away from recommending daily aspirin for many older adults, with some advising discontinuation in people over 70 unless clearly indicated.
Dr Jonathan Reiner, a cardiology professor at George Washington University who was a long-time cardiologist for former Vice President Dick Cheney, said the information shared so far raises questions. “It’s uncommon to see that kind of bruising with one aspirin a day,” he said, adding that the updates “raise more questions than they answer.”
Trump’s physician, Dr Sean Barbabella, has maintained that the president remains in “exceptional health.” In a statement to CNN, Dr Barbabella said, “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. Overall, the President remains in exceptional health and perfectly suited to execute his duties as Commander in Chief.”
In the Wall Street Journal interview, Trump also clarified reports about a medical scan he underwent in October. “It wasn’t an MRI,” he said. “It was less than that. It was a scan.” His medical team later confirmed it was a routine CT scan conducted to rule out cardiovascular issues, with normal results reported.
Trump also spoke about other health concerns, including leg swelling linked to chronic venous insufficiency. He said he stopped wearing the compression socks prescribed by doctors because “I didn’t like them.”
He brushed aside questions about appearing to fall asleep during public events, explaining, “I’ll just close [my eyes]. It’s very relaxing to me. Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”
He also downplayed hearing difficulties, saying he struggles “when there’s a lot of people talking,” but otherwise hears normally.
Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis
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