Trump Admits to Taking High-Dose Aspirin Despite Not Being Recommended by Doctors

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump admitted taking aspirin at a daily dose higher than recommended by doctors. The admission was made in an interview with The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Trump said the consumption of high-dose aspirin was the cause of the bruises on his hand, which later returned to the public spotlight.

"They said aspirin is good for thinning the blood and I don't want thick blood flowing to my heart," Trump said, quoted by CNN.

"I want the blood to flow to my heart. Does that make sense?" he continued.

The 79-year-old president said doctors had actually recommended a lower dose.

"They prefer me to drink small ones. I drink bigger ones. I've been doing it for years and the impact can indeed cause bruising," he said.

The interview was conducted spontaneously after Trump learned that the WSJ was writing a report on his health. This discussion is one of Trump's longest interviews with the media regarding his medical condition, amid increasing public attention to his age and fitness.

The bruise on Trump's right hand was actually visible before he returned to the White House. However, public attention increased after Trump tried to cover it up with thick makeup, bandages, or blocking the camera with his other hand. In addition, the swelling in the legs and Trump's moment seemed to close his eyes during public events were also highlighted.

In response to this, Trump again spoke about his health through the Truth Social social media. He emphasized that the White House doctor said he was in "perfect health",

Trump's personal physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, said Trump took 325 milligrams of aspirin per day.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the commonly recommended low dose of aspirin ranges from 75 to 100 milligrams, with 81 milligrams being the most commonly used dose. Even so, the daily therapeutic dose of aspirin is in the range of 75 to 325 milligrams.

Aspirin does help thin the blood and prevent clots, but it also increases the risk of bleeding. In recent years, many medical guidelines no longer recommend daily aspirin use, especially for the elderly.

Professor of medicine at George Washington University, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, assessed that Trump's explanation still left questions.

"It's rare to see bruises like that just because of one aspirin a day," he said.

He also questioned whether there were other drugs that Trump was taking but had not been revealed. However, Barbabella emphasized that Trump was still in very good condition.

He said the results of the medical examination showed excellent metabolic health, even Trump's heart condition was considered equivalent to a person 14 years younger than his age.

In the interview, Trump also clarified the medical examination he underwent last October. He said the examination was not an MRI, but a CT scan that was done to make sure there were no cardiovascular problems and the results were declared normal.

Trump also revealed that he had tried compression socks to deal with swelling in his legs, but didn't like them. He also admitted that he was not interested in doing regular exercise.

"I don't like it. It's boring." he said.

Regarding the accusation that he fell asleep during a public event, Trump denied it and said he just closed his eyes because he felt relaxed. Regarding hearing, he admitted that he only had difficulty when many people spoke at the same time.

Trump's health has been a public concern, especially because during the 2024 election campaign, he often criticized former President Joe Biden's health. Biden himself eventually withdrew from the nomination after a debate performance that sparked public doubts about his physical condition.