Trump says he’s taking more aspirin than doctors advise and explains why

At 79, Trump is the second-oldest person to serve as US president, after his predecessor Joe Biden, who left office at 82 after dropping his 2024 re-election bid amid questions about his fitness

• Trump takes 325mg aspirin daily, more than the usual heart health dose
• Doctors chose a CT scan for Trump, which showed no cardiovascular abnormalities
• Experts warn higher aspirin doses raise bleeding risk in older adults

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US President Donald Trump has said he is taking a larger daily dose of aspirin than his doctors recommend, citing worries about his heart and blood circulation, according to an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump told the Journal, adding: “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”

What Trump says he’s taking

Trump’s physician, Sean Barbabella, told the Wall Street Journal that the president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily as a preventive measure for cardiac health.

By comparison, the Mayo Clinic says a “low-dose” aspirin regimen, most commonly 81 milligrams, is typically recommended for older adults when advised by a doctor, the Journal reported.

Why aspirin has become part of the conversation

Daily aspirin use can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke for some people over 60, but medical experts also warn that higher doses can raise the risk of bleeding and should be used only under medical supervision, according to the Journal’s account.

Trump’s comments come at a time when his health has drawn increased attention, after visible bruising on his hands, reports of brain imaging, and instances where he appeared to close his eyes during public events, the Wall Street Journal said.

The White House’s explanation and the scan details

The White House has said the bruising was the result of Trump shaking large numbers of hands, according to the Wall Street Journal. It has also described the imaging as preventive.

The Journal reported that earlier accounts suggested Trump underwent an MRI in October, but Trump and Barbabella told the newspaper the president instead received a CT scan.

Barbabella told the Journal that doctors initially considered either an MRI or a CT scan, but chose the CT scan “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues.” The scan revealed no abnormalities, he said.

Why this matters politically

At 79, Trump is the second-oldest person to serve as US president, after his predecessor Joe Biden, who left office at 82 after dropping his 2024 re-election bid amid questions about his fitness, the Wall Street Journal noted.