President Donald Trump is brushing aside renewed speculation about his health after acknowledging that he didn’t know exactly what doctors reviewed during a recent MRI at Walter Reed — but insisted the results were stellar.
The brief medical visit, which took place last month, has drawn outsized attention after Trump casually mentioned during an interview that he had undergone magnetic resonance imaging. The White House maintains the scan was simply part of a routine checkup. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the appointment as the president’s “annual physical,” although critics immediately pointed out that Trump already had a full exam earlier this year.
Reporters pressed Trump for details Friday while traveling aboard Air Force One. One journalist asked the president directly why an MRI was necessary if the appointment was truly just a standard physical.
“It’s part of the exam,” Trump responded without hesitation. “MRIs are very common. What — you’re surprised I had one? A lot of people get them.” When the reporter attempted to explain the scan typically isn’t included in a routine checkup, the president cut in again.
“My doctor told me it was the best result he’s ever seen in his entire career,” Trump said, repeating the comment for emphasis. “So that’s all there is to it.”
The president described the outcome of the scan as “outstanding,” though the reporter wasn’t satisfied and pushed for more specifics.
“Was it for your brain? Your heart? Something else?” she asked.
Trump shrugged off the question. “I have no idea what they analyzed, but whatever they looked at, they said it was excellent. Absolutely excellent,” he said. “They told me it was as strong a result as they’ve ever had.”
The president then shifted the conversation toward something he was eager to discuss: the cognitive test he recently completed.
“As you know, I also took a very advanced mental-acuity test,” Trump continued. “And I believe every president should have to take one. Not just once — regularly. And as you probably heard, I didn’t just pass it. I aced it. Perfect score. They said it was the highest score you can get.”
The White House has insisted repeatedly that there was nothing unusual or urgent about Trump’s time at Walter Reed, saying the appointment was scheduled and not the result of any medical incident. Officials maintain the MRI was recommended by his physicians as part of an expanded wellness evaluation.
While the administration has fielded questions about why the president required two physicals in the same year, they have declined to release additional details about the imaging itself — including which part of the body was scanned. A senior official familiar with the president’s medical care said only that Trump’s doctors requested “comprehensive imaging” ahead of a busy upcoming travel schedule.
For now, Trump seems content to highlight the results rather than the process. “All I can tell you,” he said, “is the doctors were amazed. They said they’ve never seen anything better.”
