Overview
- In an Oval Office interview, Trump paused while describing his father’s illness until press secretary Karoline Leavitt supplied the word “Alzheimer’s,” after which he said, “Well, I don’t have it,” and added he does not think about it.
- White House officials and physicians reiterated that Trump is in perfect physical and cognitive health, with a physician assistant telling the reporter Trump is healthier than Barack Obama.
- Staff clarified that recent advanced imaging was a CT scan of the chest and abdomen rather than an MRI, and Trump’s doctor said the results were excellent with no vascular or cardiac abnormalities.
- Outside clinicians and aging specialists cited the exchange and other speech lapses as potential signs of language or cognitive decline, and niece Mary Trump described moments when he seems not oriented to time or place, though no diagnosis has been made public.
- Ongoing questions about bruised hands and swollen ankles persisted, with aides attributing the marks to frequent handshakes and a high-dose daily aspirin, and the swelling to chronic venous insufficiency; a new hand bruise at Davos was attributed to hitting a table.