US President Donald Trump said on Friday (Jan 2) that White House doctors had declared him in “perfect health” and that he had again passed a cognitive test with full scores, using the announcement to renew his call for mandatory mental fitness tests for top political leaders.
Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform that doctors said he was in “PERFECT HEALTH” and that he had undergone an “ACED” cognitive test “for the third time in a row.”
“That means it was correct on 100% of the questions asked!” Trump wrote.
The 79-year-old added that no other sitting or former president or vice president had been willing to undergo such a test, a claim he has repeatedly used to contrast himself with political rivals.
Trump has also pushed for cognitive tests to be made mandatory for candidates seeking the nation’s highest office.
“I strongly believe that anyone running for president or vice president should be required to take a robust, meaningful and proven cognitive test,” he said.
“Our great country cannot be run by ‘STUPID’ or INCOMPETENT PEOPLE!” Trump added.
The comments come at a time of renewed public scrutiny of Trump’s health and mental fitness as he continues his second term, and as debates over age, cognition and leadership remain central to American politics.
Trump’s recent conversation renews the focus on health
The renewed attention follows an interview with the Wall Street Journal published Thursday, Jan. 1, in which Trump — at 79, the oldest person to take on the presidency of the United States — discussed his health and daily medications.
Trump said he was taking a higher-than-usual dose of aspirin, citing circulation concerns.
“They say aspirin is a good blood thinner, and I don’t want thick blood running through my heart,” Trump told the newspaper.
“I want nice, thin blood flowing through my heart. Does that make sense?”
The aspirin dose is higher than the typical recommendation
Trump’s doctor, Sean Barbabella, told the WSJ that the president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin a day for heart prevention — significantly more than the commonly prescribed 81-milligram low-dose aspirin recommended for many older adults, according to the Mayo Clinic.
CT, not MRI: The doctor clarifies
Barbabella also cleared up the confusion about the imaging tests done in October. While earlier statements referred to an MRI, the doctor said Trump underwent a CT scan instead.
Doctors opted for a CT scan “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular problems,” Barbabella told the newspaper, adding that the results showed no abnormalities, according to Reuters.
The White House previously said the visible bruising on Trump’s hands was caused by frequent handshakes and described the scans as a precautionary measure.
A visible bruise raises questions
Still, Trump’s health attracted increased attention during the first year of his second term. His right hand showed persistent bruising—often covered by makeup or a bandage—and his ankles were swollen during public appearances.
