Trump Admits Taking Overdose Of Aspirin Over Hand Bruises

United States President Donald Trump has disclosed that he takes a higher-than-approved daily dose of aspirin, attributing it to the persistent bruising on his hands that has reignited public scrutiny over his health condition.

Trump, 79, made the disclosure in a lengthy interview with The Wall Street Journal published on Thursday, describing his preference for a stronger dose despite medical advice.

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

He added: “They’d rather have me take the smaller one. I take the larger one, but I’ve done it for years, and what it does do is it causes bruising.”

The interview is one of Trump’s most detailed engagements with journalists on his health, coming amid growing concerns about his age, physical fitness and the transparency of medical information from the White House.

Bruising on Trump’s right hand has been visible for months and reportedly predates his return to office, but has recently drawn increased attention as he appeared to cover it with makeup, bandages or by shielding it from cameras. Observers have also pointed to swelling in his legs and moments where he appeared to doze off during public events.

Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, told the Journal that the president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a low-dose aspirin typically ranges between 75 and 100 milligrams, with 81 milligrams commonly recommended. While aspirin helps prevent blood clots, it also increases the risk of excessive bleeding, and recent medical guidelines discourage daily aspirin use for many adults, especially those in their 70s.

Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a professor at George Washington University’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences, questioned the explanation offered by Trump’s team.

“It’s uncommon to see that kind of bruising with one aspirin a day,” Reiner said. “My question is, ‘Does the president take any medications that have not been disclosed by the White House?’”

Barbabella, however, maintained that Trump is in good health, stating that he “remains in exceptional health.”

“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,” Barbabella said. “Overall, the President remains in exceptional health and perfectly suited to execute his duties as Commander in Chief.”

Trump also clarified details about a medical scan conducted in October, which he initially described as an MRI. He told the Journal it was instead a CT scan. “It wasn’t an MRI. It was less than that. It was a scan,” he said.

Barbabella explained that the CT scan was carried out “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues,” adding that results showed “perfectly normal” findings. This follows earlier reports that a 2018 coronary CT scan revealed moderate plaque buildup in Trump’s arteries.

On other health matters, Trump acknowledged swelling in his lower legs, previously attributed by the White House to chronic venous insufficiency. He said he tried compression socks but “didn’t like them,” and dismissed the idea of regular exercise, describing it as “boring.”

Addressing reports that he appeared to fall asleep at public events, Trump said: “I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me. Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”

The revelations have once again sparked debate about transparency surrounding the US president’s health, especially as Trump has repeatedly questioned the fitness of his predecessor, Joe Biden, to serve in office.