He’s 79. He’s back in the Oval Office. And honestly, it feels like half the country spends their Tuesday afternoons squinting at high-res photos of his hands or timing the gaps between his sentences. People want to know if the man is actually holding up under the weight of the presidency for a second time.
The conversation around Donald Trump current health status is usually a mess of extremes. You’ve got the official White House memos saying he’s a physical specimen of "perfect health," and then you’ve got the late-night armchair doctors on social media diagnosing him with everything from "mini-strokes" to exhaustion because he gripped a railing with two hands.
So, what is the actual reality as of early 2026?
The October CT Scan Mystery
Things got weird back in October 2025. Trump went to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what he called a "semiannual physical." It was a bit unexpected—he’d already had his big annual check-up in April.
The media went into a total tailspin because the White House was initially quiet about the details. Trump eventually sat down with The Wall Street Journal to clear it up, but in classic fashion, he kinda made it more confusing first. He told them he had an MRI. Then he backtracked and said it was actually a CT scan.
"In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition," Trump told the Journal. "I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t, because the fact that I took it said, 'Oh gee, is something wrong?' Well, nothing’s wrong."
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His physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, released a memo shortly after. He explained that "advanced imaging" (the CT scan) was done on Trump's heart and abdomen. Why? Basically, because he’s a man in his late 70s and they wanted to check for cardiovascular issues. Barbabella’s verdict was that everything looked "perfectly normal" with no abnormalities in his major organs.
The Hand Bruises and "Nice, Thin Blood"
If you’ve been on X (formerly Twitter) lately, you’ve probably seen the "purple hand" photos. There were several weeks in late 2025 where Trump had visible bruising on the back of his right hand.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attributed this to "frequent handshaking" and the use of aspirin. It sounds like a reach until you look at the dosage. Trump admitted he takes a full 325mg of aspirin every single day.
Most doctors for people his age suggest a "baby aspirin" (81mg) to prevent strokes or heart attacks. Trump, being Trump, prefers the "larger one." He told reporters he likes having "nice, thin blood" pouring through his heart. While he’s superstitious about the habit, that much aspirin can make you bruise if you so much as bump into a podium.
The CVI Diagnosis
Another real piece of the puzzle is Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). The White House actually confirmed this diagnosis over the summer. It’s a common condition where the veins in the legs struggle to send blood back up to the heart.
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It explains why people noticed his ankles looking swollen. He tried wearing compression socks for a bit but apparently hated them and quit. Now, he mostly manages it by staying active on the golf course, which—believe it or not—is actually recommended for circulation.
Cognitive Tests: 100% Correct?
You can’t talk about Donald Trump current health status without mentioning the cognitive exams. It’s his favorite topic. He kicked off 2026 by claiming he "aced" his third straight cognitive test, specifically the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
For those who don't know, the MoCA isn't an IQ test. It’s a screening tool for dementia. You have to draw a clock, identify a lion or a camel, and remember a short list of words. Trump’s score was reportedly a perfect 30/30.
Is he slowing down? In some clips, he looks tired. There was a cabinet meeting in December where his eyes were closed for a long stretch. Critics called it a "micro-nap." Trump called it "resting my eyes" and "blinking." He’s always been a "short sleeper," claiming he only needs four or five hours a night, but at 79, those late-night Truth Social sessions might be catching up to his daytime stamina.
The Numbers You Actually Care About
When the White House released his April 2025 physical results, the vitals were surprisingly stable for a guy who lives on Diet Coke and well-done steaks:
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- Weight: 224 pounds (He supposedly lost about 20 pounds since 2020).
- Blood Pressure: 128/74 mmHg (That’s actually quite good).
- Cholesterol: His LDL (the "bad" stuff) was at 51 mg/dL, largely thanks to a daily dose of Rosuvastatin.
- Resting Heart Rate: 62 beats per minute.
He’s 6'3", which puts his BMI in the "overweight" category, but he’s avoided the "obese" label that haunted his first term.
Why the "Stroke" Rumors Won't Die
In January 2026, a professor from Washington State University, Bruce Davidson, went on a podcast and claimed Trump likely had a stroke on the left side of his brain in early 2025. He pointed to Trump "shuffling his feet" and "cradling his right hand."
The White House called it "deranged wishcasting."
There is no medical record of a stroke. While "gait changes" (that foot shuffling) can be a sign of neurological issues, they are also incredibly common in people with CVI or just general aging. Without an actual neurological exam showing focal weakness, it's mostly speculation from people watching TV clips.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for You
If you're following Donald Trump current health status to understand the stability of the executive branch, here's the bottom line:
- Watch the Schedule: Trump has asked staff to "slim down" his travel schedule to focus on core meetings. This isn't necessarily a "decline," but it is a concession to his age.
- The Aspirin Factor: If you see more bruises, don't panic. He's on a high-dose blood thinner regimen that makes skin fragility a certainty.
- SOTU Check: The next big "stress test" is the State of the Union address on February 24, 2026. This will be the longest period he’s stood and spoken continuously in months.
Keep an eye on the official physician memos from Walter Reed rather than social media clips. While the White House naturally puts a "perfect" spin on things, the specific vitals like blood pressure and CT results are harder to fake.
If you're curious about how the administration is handling these concerns internally, you might want to look into the "MAHA" (Make America Healthy Again) initiatives being pushed by the White House to see if the President is actually following his own advice.