President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday night that he underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan as part of his “standard” physical last month — and claimed “the result was outstanding.”
Why It Matters
Trump, 79, has again put the spotlight on how much the public is told about a president’s health. His comments about getting an MRI — without clarifying exactly why it was ordered or what it assessed — have fueled ongoing questions about how transparent the White House is being about his medical status and the protocols used to monitor it.
What To Know
Trump said he received the MRI at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in October during what he described as a “very standard” physical, emphasizing that the procedure was routine.
“Getting an MRI is very standard. What, you think I shouldn’t have it? Other people get it … I had an MRI. The doctor said it was the best result he has ever seen as a doctor,” the president told reporters Friday.
Pressed on which part of his body was scanned, Trump responded, “I have no idea what they analyzed, but whatever they analyzed, they analyzed it well, and they said that I had as good a result as they’ve ever seen.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has previously said that Trump underwent “advanced imaging” at Walter Reed as part of his “routine physical” and that he “remains in exceptional physical health” following review by radiologists and other consultants.
The October MRI marked Trump’s second formal health evaluation this year. In July, the White House disclosed that he had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a vascular condition that is relatively common in older adults.
What People Are Saying
Commentary online quickly followed Trump’s remarks about the MRI:
- Mehdi Hasan, progressive commentator and journalist, wrote on X on Friday: “Donald Trump says he does not know why he had an MRI. How is this not 25th Amendment territory?”
- Symone D. Sanders Townsend, MSNBC co-host, posted on X: “This is not routine. Why did the President need an MRI?”
- Former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh also weighed in on X: “It’s really something. The greatest country in the history of the world twice elected the most stupid, most ignorant, biggest idiot in the history of the world.”
What Happens Next
Given Trump’s age and status as one of the oldest presidents to serve, his medical evaluations are likely to remain under intense scrutiny. Any future updates on his condition or additional testing will be closely watched as he continues his second term in office.
