President Donald Trump has publicly addressed growing concerns about his wellbeing, revealing in a candid interview that he routinely disregards specific medical advice regarding his medication, exercise, and sleep patterns.
Aspirin Use and Bruising Explained
In a wide-ranging discussion with The Wall Street Journal published on Thursday 1st January 2026, the 79-year-old commander-in-chief tackled questions about his physical state. These followed recent photographs showing him with bruised hands and swollen ankles. While his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, previously attributed the bruising to "frequent handshaking," Trump offered a different explanation.
The president stated that the bruising results from him taking a daily dose of 325 milligrams of aspirin, significantly higher than the commonly recommended low dose of 81 milligrams. "I’m a little superstitious," Trump said. "They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice, thin blood."
He admitted that his own doctor would prefer the smaller dose but confirmed he has taken the larger one for years. To cover subsequent bruising, he uses makeup that he claims takes "about 10 seconds" to apply after getting "whacked again by someone."
Sleep Habits and Cabinet Meeting Naps
Addressing footage that has shown him with his eyes closed during Cabinet meetings and in the Oval Office, Trump denied falling asleep. "I’ve never been a big sleeper," he remarked, adding that he often calls and texts aides at 2 a.m. or later.
He suggested photographers sometimes catch him in the act of blinking. "I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to," he said of his eyes. "Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink."
Diet, Exercise, and Official Medical Assessment
The president also confirmed his well-known preference for a diet heavy in fast food, including burgers and fries, and his aversion to structured exercise outside of playing golf. "To walk on a treadmill or run on a treadmill for hours and hours like some people do, that’s not for me," he stated.
Despite these self-reported habits, his physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, has asserted that Trump is in "exceptional health and perfectly suited to execute his duties as Commander in Chief." An April medical report noted the president takes aspirin for "cardiac prevention," along with rosuvastatin and ezetimibe for cholesterol, and mometasone cream for a skin condition.
As the oldest person ever to assume the US presidency, Trump's approach to managing the immense stress of the 24/7 role continues to draw intense scrutiny and debate about the intersection of personal habit and public duty.
