By Annie Linskey
WASHINGTON -- The White House said President Trump underwent advanced imaging in October to assess his "cardiovascular and abdominal health," offering some new details about the procedure amid increasing pressure to explain why it was necessary.
The magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, was preventive, and doctors found "no evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow" or abnormalities in his heart or major vessels, said Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, Trump's physician, in a memo released by the White House press office.
The president's heart chambers are "normal in size," blood vessel walls "appear smooth and healthy" and there were no signs of "inflammation or clotting," according to the memo. He cast the screening as typical for a patient of Trump's age.
"Everything evaluated is functioning within normal limits with no acute or chronic concerns," Barbabella wrote.
Trump, who is 79 years old, is the oldest man to take the presidential oath of office. His predecessor, Joe Biden, was 81 years old when he dropped his re-election bid last year amid questions about his health and mental acuity.
Trump has been to see his doctors at the Walter Reed National Medical Center three times this year, according to the White House. He was evaluated in April for a routine physical; in July for a follow-up and in October for the MRI.
The president has been pressed about the MRI repeatedly in recent weeks. "The doctor said it was the best result he's ever seen as a doctor," Trump said in mid-November of the procedure. "The result was outstanding." Trump has also described the MRI as "perfect."
Democrats, many of whom were defensive when questions were raised about Biden's health, have focused on the MRI and pushed the White House for more information. "The President is unwell. Release the MRI results," said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate in 2024, in a social-media post Sunday.
On Sunday evening, Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air Force One that he would release additional information about the MRI. He said at the time that he had few details about the procedure, stressing only that it wasn't done out of any concerns over his mental sharpness.
"I took a cognitive test and I aced it, I got a perfect mark which you would be incapable of doing" the president said, pointing at a reporter.
Write to Annie Linskey at annie.linskey@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 01, 2025 15:17 ET (20:17 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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