Major red flags raised about Trump's health after MRI note made public

Concerns about Donald Trump’s health resurfaced after a medical expert publicly questioned the imaging procedure the former president claims to have undergone, saying the scan described by Trump and the White House is not recognized in standard medical practice.

In a recent Wall Street Journal interview, Trump, now 79, said he regretted undergoing what he described as “advanced imaging” during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. According to Trump, the scan generated unnecessary public speculation about his health, despite him insisting that nothing was wrong.

The White House later clarified that the imaging was intended as a preventive measure. Trump’s physician, Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, stated in a memo released in December that the president underwent advanced imaging as a screening step for someone of his age. Barbabella explained that Trump happened to be at Walter Reed for meetings, and the physician suggested either a CT scan or an MRI to rule out possible cardiovascular issues. The doctor said the abdominal imaging showed no abnormalities.

However, confusion emerged when Trump initially referred to the test as an MRI but admitted he was unsure which part of his body had actually been scanned. This distinction matters because CT scans and MRIs serve different purposes. CT scans are quicker and commonly used for screening, while MRIs are more detailed and typically reserved for investigating specific medical concerns.

That ambiguity drew scrutiny from Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a medical analyst who said he consulted multiple leading radiologists across the United States. Speaking on the Midas Health program, Gupta stated that the type of imaging described does not align with established medical guidelines.

According to Gupta, there is no such thing as a routine “torso MRI” used for preventive screening in older adults. He explained that MRIs are not standard primary screening tools and are usually ordered only when there is a specific medical concern that needs further evaluation.

Gupta emphasized that focusing on both the heart and abdomen without a clear clinical indication makes little sense from a diagnostic standpoint. He said this assessment was confirmed by external experts from across the medical field. Rather than clarifying Trump’s health status, Gupta argued, the vague explanations have created more uncertainty.

The White House pushed back against the criticism. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on New Year’s Day that the administration has consistently maintained that the president received advanced imaging. She added that Trump himself disclosed additional details because he has “nothing to hide.”

Trump echoed that sentiment in his interview, saying that undergoing the scan only fueled unnecessary speculation. In hindsight, he said, he would have been better off declining the test altogether because it allowed critics to question whether something was wrong, even though he insists the results were normal.

Age has remained a sensitive topic for Trump, who became the oldest person ever sworn into the presidency. He has repeatedly criticized former President Joe Biden over age and mental fitness, even as similar questions have increasingly been directed at Trump himself.

Those questions have intensified in recent months due to visible bruising on the back of Trump’s right hand, often concealed with makeup, and noticeable swelling around his ankles. The White House previously confirmed that Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition common among older adults in which blood does not efficiently return from the legs to the heart.

Trump said he briefly tried wearing compression socks to manage the swelling but stopped because he disliked them. As for the bruising on his hand, Leavitt attributed it to frequent handshaking combined with aspirin use.

Trump has acknowledged that he takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, more than his doctors recommend. He said he has resisted reducing the dosage because he has taken aspirin for decades and is somewhat superstitious about changing the routine. He framed his reasoning in simple terms, saying he wants his blood to stay “thin” to protect his heart.

Trump has also denied claims that he has fallen asleep during meetings or public appearances, stating that moments caught on camera with his eyes closed were simply him resting or blinking.

Taken together, the unclear medical explanations, visible physical symptoms, and Trump’s own remarks have continued to fuel public debate. While the White House insists there is nothing unusual about the imaging or Trump’s health, medical experts say the lack of clarity has only raised more questions, not fewer.

As with past controversies surrounding presidential health disclosures, transparency and precision matter. When explanations are vague or inconsistent, speculation fills the gap. In this case, critics argue that the administration’s handling of the situation has done little to put concerns to rest.