President Donald Trump has disclosed that he takes a higher daily dose of aspirin than doctors usually advise, saying he prefers to keep his blood flowing “nice and thin” through his heart.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Thursday, the 79-year-old president offered his personal view on heart health.
“Aspirin thins the blood, they say, and I don’t want thick blood going through my heart,” Trump explained. “I want thin blood going through my heart. Does that make sense?”
Trump is currently the second-oldest individual ever to serve as president, behind his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, who left office at age 82 after withdrawing from the 2024 race amid concerns about his health.
His physical condition has drawn heightened attention in recent months. Observers have noted visible bruising on his hands during public appearances, and reports emerged that he underwent brain imaging last fall. Online speculation also followed instances where Trump appeared to close his eyes during official events.
Medical guidance from the Mayo Clinic indicates that daily aspirin may lower the risk of heart attack or stroke for some people over 60, typically at a low dose of about 81 milligrams.
Trump, however, is taking substantially more. His physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, told the Journal that the president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin each day as a preventive measure—roughly four times the dose commonly recommended for long-term use.
The White House has previously dismissed concerns about the bruising, attributing it to frequent handshaking. Officials also described the imaging scan as precautionary, not prompted by symptoms.
Although early reports suggested Trump had an MRI in October, both he and Dr. Barbabella later clarified that the test was a CT scan. Barbabella said doctors considered both options before selecting a CT scan to rule out cardiovascular problems, adding that the results showed no abnormalities.
Despite assurances from his medical team, Trump’s remarks about independently managing his aspirin intake have raised questions, particularly given the increased bleeding risk associated with higher doses. Still, the president appeared unfazed, presenting his approach as simple common sense—though medical professionals stress that no one should follow such advice without consulting a doctor, as excessive aspirin use can pose serious health risks.
