Overview
- White House physician Sean Barbabella confirmed the president takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily and said a recent CT scan at Walter Reed showed no cardiovascular abnormalities.
- Trump said he has declined advice to lower the dose after decades of use and linked his recurring hand bruising to aspirin, following earlier White House explanations that cited extensive hand-shaking.
- Cardiologists criticized the rationale for seeking “thin blood,” noting that higher doses do not add protection and increase risks of gastrointestinal and intracranial bleeding.
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s 2022 guidance advises against starting aspirin for primary prevention in people 60 and older and limits use to low doses only for select higher-risk patients.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged greater transparency and supported a potential congressional inquiry, while White House officials continued to describe the president as in perfect health.