President Donald Trump has revealed he’s been taking a bigger daily dose of aspirin than his doctors recommend, explaining that he wants his blood flowing “nice and thin” through his heart.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal in an interview published Thursday, the 79-year-old president shared his own very Trumpian take on heart health.
“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?”
Trump is currently the second-oldest person ever to hold the presidency, behind his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, who left office at 82 after stepping aside from the 2024 race amid questions about his fitness for the role.
Unsurprisingly, Trump’s health has been under a microscope in recent months. Viewers have pointed out visible bruising on his hands during public appearances, along with reports that he underwent brain imaging last autumn. There have also been moments where the president appeared to close his eyes during official events, prompting speculation online.
According to medical guidance from the Mayo Clinic, daily aspirin use can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in people over 60 – but typically at a low dose of around 81 milligrams.
Trump, however, is taking significantly more.
His physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, told the Journal that the president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin every day as a preventative measure for his heart. That’s four times the dose most commonly recommended for long-term use.
The White House has previously brushed off concerns about the bruising on Trump’s hands, claiming it’s simply the result of “shaking so many hands.” Officials also described his imaging scan as preventative rather than a response to any symptoms.
While reports initially suggested Trump had undergone an MRI in October, both the president and Dr. Barbabella clarified that it was actually a CT scan.
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Barbabella explained that doctors had debated between an MRI and a CT scan but ultimately chose the latter “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues.” According to him, the scan showed no abnormalities.
Despite the reassurance from his medical team, Trump’s comments about managing his own aspirin intake have raised eyebrows, especially given the risks associated with higher doses, including increased bleeding.
Still, the president appeared unconcerned, framing the decision as a matter of common sense – at least in his view.
Whether doctors would agree with Trump’s philosophy of “nice, thin blood” is another question entirely, and it goes without saying that nobody should follow his advice without consulting an appropriate medical professional as taking too high a dose of aspirin could cause serious health issues.