Trump says he got a CT scan instead of an MRI

For weeks, President Donald Trump has said that he received an MRIat Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in October, but when asked about the procedure by the Wall Street Journal in an interview published Thursday, Trump and his doctor said that he actually got a CT scan instead.

"It wasn't an MRI," Trump told the Journal. "It was less than that. It was a scan."

Last month, Trump maintained that he got an MRI, telling reporters on Air Force One that he would "absolutely" release the results.

The White House has not specifically said why Trump received the scan. In November, Trump claimed the MRI was part of his yearly physical.

Trump's physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella told the Journal that the president had received a CT scan -- not an MRI. Barbabella said Trump's doctors initially told him they would perform either an MRI or a CT scan.

Both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans are imaging methods used by health care professionals to look at organs and structures inside the body to help diagnose a variety of conditions. While an MRI scan uses a large magnet and radio waves to generate a picture, a CT scan uses X-rays.

White House physician says Trump's imaging test results were 'perfectly normal' in memo

On Dec. 1,the White House released the resultsof Trump's advanced imaging tests, describing them as "perfectly normal." Barbabella said then that the imaging helps confirm Trump's overall health and identifies any early issues before they become serious.

Barbabella told the Journal that the CT scan was done "to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues" and showed no abnormalities.

Barbabella told ABC News in a statement on Thursday that the president remains "in exceptional health and perfectly suited to execute his duties as Commander in Chief."

In late October, Trump first said he had an MRI as part of the "advanced imaging" tests he received at Walter Reed.

"I got an MRI. It was perfect," Trump said at the time. "I mean, I gave you the full results. We had an MRI and the machine, you know, the whole thing, and it was perfect."

Trump remains in 'exceptional health,' doctor says after president's check-up at Walter Reed

Even though Trump said multiple times that he had received an MRI, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told ABC News on Thursday that Trump's "physicians and the White House have always maintained the president received advanced imaging."

Although the advanced imaging was taken as a preventative measure, according to the White House and Barbabella, Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he now regrets getting it done, saying in the interview that it's being used as "ammunition" against him.

"In retrospect, it's too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition. I would have been a lot better off if they didn't, because the fact that I took it said, 'Oh gee, is something wrong?' Well, nothing's wrong," Trump said.

In his Wall Street Journal interview, Trump said that the large dose of aspirin he takes daily has caused him to bruise easily, adding that he's refused his doctors' advice to take a lower dose, adding that he has taken that specific aspirin for 25 years.

"They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don't want thick blood pouring through my heart," Trump said told the Wall Street Journal. "I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?"

In the Wall Street Journal article, Trump pushed back against criticism that he has struggled to keep his eyes open during several White House events, appearing to fall asleep.

"I'll just close. It's very relaxing to me," Trump said to the Wall Street Journal about not falling asleep at White House events. "Sometimes they'll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they'll catch me with the blink."

One of the most notable recent examples of this occurred during Trump's Cabinet meeting in December and his November announcement to reduce the cost of weight-loss medication.

The Wall Street Journal reports that staff has counseled Trump to try to keep his eyes open during public events and that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has urged Cabinet members to shorten their presentations.

The Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mehmet Oz, who was at the November event where Trump appeared to doze off, told the Journal he believes Trump became bored.

byAlex Forten

in

January 01, 2026

Trump says he got a CT scan instead of an MRI

For weeks, President Donald Trump has said that he received an MRIat Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Octo...

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Trump, in interview, defends his energy and health, offers new details on screening he underwent

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal and disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination about which he and the White House delayed offering details.

Trump, in the interview, said he regretted undergoing the advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because it raised public questions about his health. His physician said in a memo the White House released in December that he had "advanced imaging" as a preventative screening for men his age.

Trumphad initially described it as an MRIbut said he didn't know what part of his body he had scanned. A CT scan is a quicker form of diagnostic imaging than an MRI but offers less detail about differences in tissue.

The president's doctor, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said in a statement released Thursday by the White House that Trump underwent the exam in October because he planned to be at Walter Reed to meet people working there. Trump hadalready undergone an annual physical in April.

"President Trump agreed to meet with the staff and soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in October. In order to make the most of the President's time at the hospital, we recommended he undergo another routine physical evaluation to ensure continued optimal health," Barbabella said.

Barbabella said that he asked the president to undergo either a CT scan or MRI "to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues" and the results were "perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Thursday that the president's doctors and the White House have "always maintained the President received advanced imaging" but said that "additional details on the imaging have been disclosed by the President himself" because he "has nothing to hide."

"In retrospect, it's too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition," Trump said in theinterview with The Wall Street Journalpublished Thursday. "I would have been a lot better off if they didn't, because the fact that I took it said, 'Oh gee, is something wrong?' Well, nothing's wrong."

The 79-year-old became the oldest person to take the oath of office when he was sworn in as president last year and has been sensitive to questions about his health, particularly as he has repeatedly questioned his predecessor Joe Biden's fitness for office.

Biden, who turned 82 in the last year of his presidency, was dogged the end of the his tenure and during his abandoned attempt to seek reelection over scrutiny of his age and mental acuity.

But questions have also swirled around Trump's health this year as he's been seen with bruising on the back of his right hand that has been conspicuous despite a slathering of makeup on top, along with noticeable swelling at his ankles.

The White House this summer said the president had been diagnosed withchronic venous insufficiency, a common condition among older adults. The condition happens when veins in the legs can't properly carry blood back to the heart and it pools in the lower legs.

In the interview, Trump said he briefly tried wearing compression socks to address the swelling but stopped because he didn't like them.

The bruising on Trump's hand, according to Leavitt, is from "frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin," which Trump takes regularly to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

He said he takes more aspirin than his doctors recommend but said he has resisted taking less because he's been taking it for 25 years and said he is "a little superstitious." Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, according to Barbabella.

"They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don't want thick blood pouring through my heart," Trump said. "I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?"

Trump, in the interview, denied he has fallen asleep during White House meetingswhen cameras have caught him with his eyes closed, instead insisting he was resting his eyes or blinking.

"I'll just close. It's very relaxing to me," he said. "Sometimes they'll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they'll catch me with the blink."

He said that he's never slept much at night,a habit he also described during his first term, and said he starts his day early in the White House residence before moving to the Oval Office around 10 a.m. and working until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.

The president dismissed questions about his hearing, saying he only struggled to hear "when there's a lot of people talking," and said he has plenty of energy, which he credited to his genes.

"Genetics are very important," he said. "And I have very good genetics."

byAlex Forten

in

January 01, 2026

Trump, in interview, defends his energy and health, offers new details on screening he underwent

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Coast Guard searches for 77-year-old woman who went overboard from cruise ship

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a 77-year-old woman who went overboard from a Holland America Line cruise ship.

The woman was a passenger on the Nieuw Statendam ship, which was roughly 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, when she went overboard on Thursday, the Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard has deployed Cutter William Trump and an MH-60 helicopter to help with the search.

The ship departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday and was on a seven-day journey through the eastern Caribbean, according to Holland America Line.

"The captain and crew initiated search and rescue procedures and are searching the area working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard," the cruise line said in a statement. "Our family assistance team is supporting the guest's family, and our thoughts are with the guest's loved ones during this difficult time."

The ship was scheduled to dock at Key West, Florida, on Friday, but that stop was canceled because of the ongoing search, the cruise line said.

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byAlex Forten

in

January 01, 2026

Coast Guard searches for 77-year-old woman who went overboard from cruise ship

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a 77-year-old woman who went overboard from a Holland America Line cruise ship. ...

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Aaron Rodgers, 42, undecided about playing in 2026

As his Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for Sunday's playoffs-or-bust clash with the rival Baltimore Ravens, Aaron Rodgers said he remains undecided about returning for a 22nd season in 2026.

Playing on a one-year contract this season, the four-time NFL MVP has posted his 15th season with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes.

If the Steelers (9-7) lose the battle for the AFC North title with the Ravens (8-8) on Sunday night in Pittsburgh, their season and potentially Rodgers' career will end.

"I'm thinking about this week, but obviously I'm 42 years old and I'm on a one-year deal," Rodgers told reporters on Wednesday. "So you know what the situation is. Whenever the season ends, I'll be a free agent. So that'll give me a lot of options if I still want to play. I mean, not a lot of options, but there'll be options, I would think, maybe one or two, if I decide I still want to play.

"I've enjoyed this experience, and everybody in Pittsburgh has been fantastic to me on and off the field. And it's really what I was hoping for this experience was. It's been even better than I was hoping."

When Rodgers signed his one-year, $13.65 million deal in June, he told "The Pat McAfee Show" that he was "pretty sure" the 2025 campaign would be his last.

Six months later, Rodgers said he was grateful for his experience in Pittsburgh and the opportunity to play for head coach Mike Tomlin.

"You always think about the what-if and the alternative timelines of your life," Rodgers said. "But if I hadn't taken this path, I never would have met so many guys in the locker room who I now call close friends and wouldn't have the experiences and the memories on the field, wouldn't have been able to be in the room with Tom Arth again and Bake (Matt Baker) and be able to play for Arthur Smith and Mike Tomlin. And I feel like there would be a little hole in my life missing without having this chapter. So I'm thankful for this time."

Rodgers ranks fourth in NFL history in passing touchdowns (526) and fifth in passing yards (65,980) heading into the Week 18 finale. His career passer rating of 102.3 ranks No. 1 all-time as does his 1.4% interception percentage.

--Field Level Media

byAlex Forten

in

January 01, 2026

Aaron Rodgers, 42, undecided about playing in 2026

As his Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for Sunday's playoffs-or-bust clash with the rival Baltimore Ravens, Aaron Rodg...

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More campus games? Big 12 commish says 'everything is on the table' when it comes to playoff reboot

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — While fans trickled into the Orange Bowl stadium for a quarterfinal where tickets were going for as little as $39, the commissioner of the Big 12 said "everything is on the table" when it comes to rebooting the College Football Playoff, including potentially moving more games onto campus.

The commissionershave until Jan. 23to figure out what the playoff will look like next year. Expansion from the current 12-team format and automatic bids have been the two biggest headlines in that discussion, though the idea of keeping more games on campus will factor in.

"We have to examine that, too," Brett Yormark said Thursday, about a half-hour before kickoff of thequarterfinal between Texas Tech and Oregon. "Operationally, can we do it? The first-round games have been fantastic in every respect. I think it's a differentiator."

Under the 12-team format, now in its second season, first-round games involving the fifth through 12th seeds have taken place on the campus of the better-seeded team. The rest of the rounds are at traditional bowl sites, with this year's final coming to Miami Gardens.

The Oregon-Texas Tech game kicked off in front of thousands of empty seats at Hard Rock Stadium. The Ducks traveled 3,200 miles to get to Miami and, if they keep winning, would head to Atlanta for the semifinals (Peach Bowl) before returning to South Florida for the final on Jan. 19. That's around 17,500 miles in travel over three weeks.

"There's a better way to do all of this,"Oregon coach Dan Lanning saidthe day before the game. "We're not inventing the wheel here."

There has been a wide gap between the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten visions of what the next iteration of the playoff should look like. The SEC sees a 16-team field filled with at-large bids; the Big Ten has pushed for a field of 16 or more with more automatic qualifiers.

Under terms of the agreement that goes into play next year, the other two Power Four conferences — Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference — are presumed to not have decision-making power in what comes next, though Yormark insisted "we have a big voice in that room."

Yormark would not bite on the question when asked whether Group of Five conferences still belong in the tournament. Counting the first-roundlosses by TulaneandJames Madisonthis year, those teams have lost by an average score of 41-19 over two seasons.

"Everything's on the table and, and hopefully we'll be very thoughtful about it, and if there's change, we'll announce it in due time," Yormark said.

Commish says disputed CSC agreement will get signed

Yormark also said problems keeping schools from signing the participation agreement sent out by the new College Sports Commission are being resolved, and he expects the 68 Power Four teams to sign the contract soon.

A number of state attorneys generaltold their schools not to signthe agreement the commission sent out in November. Among the issues were that it stripped universities of their right to legal action regarding decisions the CSC makes.

Yormark says the agreement is being reworked in a way that all the schools can sign it so, as he said, "we're all signing up for the same rules of engagement."

"But one person's opinion is, you don't need a piece of paper to enforce" the rules, he said.

In a separateinterview with The Associated Pressearlier this week, Texas Tech head of regents Cody Campbell also said he suspects the agreement will get signed, though he's not sure it will have any impact.

"I don't think it's going to be that helpful in terms of creating any kind of stability," said Campbell, who would like to see Congress set up a completely new entity to run college sports. "And it's going to be challenged in court, already is being challenged in court, and it's not going to go well for the CSC."

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign uphereandhere(AP News mobile app). AP college football:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/college-football

byAlex Forten

in

January 01, 2026

More campus games? Big 12 commish says 'everything is on the table' when it comes to playoff reboot

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — While fans trickled into the Orange Bowl stadium for a quarterfinal where tickets were going f...

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Micah Parsons takes aim at Cowboys over the team's poor defensive performance in 2025: 'Y’all want me to feel bad?'

Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons has some extra time on his hands after suffering a torn ACL in December. While his team preps for the playoffs, Parsons is stuck at home recovering after undergoing surgery, and that means he has more time to scroll social media.

Parsons was apparently doing that Thursday when he stumbled upon a post about his former team that compelled him to respond.

The original post featured an image of Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who told Cowboys media Thursday that the Parsons trade "changed" how the team's defense operated. Parsons responded to that tweet with multiple "laughing" emojis.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂https://t.co/13vdOrCPkC

— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11)January 1, 2026

He then took it a step further. After apparently getting some hate in the comments, Parsons defended his actions, saying he felt slandered by Jerry Jones "for months."

Y'all want me to feel bad? Jerry Jones slandered my name to Cowboys media and national media for months. So I do think I can react to comment if I want to!#respectfully

— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11)January 1, 2026

Parsons was likely referencing a series of comments Jones made ahead oftrading the superstar to the Packers. Since that trade, there hasn't been much of a back-and-forth between the two. In the weeks after the deal, the pass rusher saidhe didn't hear from Jones following the trade. Since then it's been fairly quiet on both sides, thoughJones did wish Parsons the bestfollowing his season-ending injury.

But Parsons' tweet re-opened that wound, and made it clear that he still harbors some feelings about the trade. He has a few reasons for that. While Parsons is currently injured, the change of scenery proved to be beneficial for both him and the Packers. Parsons got paid, and then put up excellent numbers when healthy. Despite losing Parsons, the Packers still managed to secure a playoff spot in the NFC.

The Cowboys can't say the same. Despite the addition of Eberflus as its defensive coordinator, the team ranks dead last in points allowed per game in 2025. That's not a huge decline compared to last season, when the Cowboys ranked 31st in the same category, but that's hardly a consolation.

As last season shows, though, the presence of Parsons in 2025 may not have lifted the Cowboys all that much. The team's defense was miserable with him last year. While it was worse in 2025, it's unclear how much he could have single-handedly lifted Dallas' defense to better numbers.

Without Parsons, the Cowboys will improve their winning percentage in 2025, though the team has already been eliminated from postseason contention. It will look to use the picks it acquired in the Parsons trade to reload for the 2026 NFL season.

Despite the injury, Parsons still has a shot at winning a ring this season. And if the Packers can't accomplish that, there's a decent chance the team will get Parsons back early next season to try and make another run at a Super Bowl title.

While the trade was clearly painful for Parsons, he's in a better spot right now. The Packers look like perennial contenders with the All-Pro. The Cowboys, meanwhile, look like a team with multiple holes to fill if they want to contend next year.

byAlex Forten

in

January 01, 2026

Micah Parsons takes aim at Cowboys over the team's poor defensive performance in 2025: 'Y’all want me to feel bad?'

Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons has some extra time on his hands after suffering a torn ACL in December. While his t...

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'Superstitious' Trump says he takes more aspirin than his doctors want

President Donald Trumpsaid in a new interview that he takes a higher daily dose of aspirin than his doctors recommend, continuing the dosage because he has taken it for years and is "superstitious."

"They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don't want thick blood pouring through my heart,"Trump told the Wall Street Journal. "I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?"

The president also deniedfalling asleep at meetings, described exercise other than golf as "boring" and said he actually underwent a CT scan, notan MRI, during a recent exam, speaking to the Journal about his health amid recent public speculation.

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U.S. President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 2, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> U.S. President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 2, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., Dec. 2, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Trump caught dozing off in cabinet meeting

The Journal's reporting on Trump's health and signs of aging prompted an "impromptu" interview with the president, who "expressed irritation" at the debate around the topic.

"My health is perfect," Trump told the Journal.

Trump, 79, is the oldest person elected president, andhis health has been in the spotlight.

In July, the White House disclosed that Trump wasexperiencing swelling in his lower legsand bruising on his right hand after photographs showed the president with swollen ankles and makeup covering the afflicted part of his hand. Trump attributes the bruising to his aspirin consumption, according to the Journal, and his doctors have encouraged a lower dose.

Trump's doctor, Sean Barbabella, told the Journal that Trump's aspirin use is for "cardiac prevention" and he takes 325 milligrams a day. Aspirin can help prevent blood clots by thinning the blood and may decrease the risk of heart attack or stroke,according to the Mayo Clinic, which describes a low dose as between 75 and 100 milligrams and says "daily dose for aspirin therapy is usually between 75 mg and 325 mg."

Barbabella said in a letter released by the White House last year that Trump's leg swelling was the result of "chronic venous insufficiency," a benign and common condition especially in people over 70.

The president had two medical exams in 2025, in April and October. The report from the October exam said he underwent "advanced imaging" but did not disclose the results of the imaging. Trumplater saidhe had an MRI.

But the president and Barbabella told the Journal he actually had a CT scan. Barbabella said in a statement to the Journal that doctors told Trump he would either get a CT scan or an MRI and decided on the CT scan "to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues."

"It wasn't an MRI," Trump told the Journal. "It was less than that. It was a scan."

The Journal also reported that Trump's aides have encouraged him to keep his eyes open during events. The president has shut his eyes for stretches during public appearances, includingduring a Dec. 2 Cabinet meeting, prompting questions about whether he was dozing off, which the president denied.

"I'll just close. It's very relaxing to me," Trump told the Journal, adding: "Sometimes they'll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they'll catch me with the blink."

Amid questions about his health and energy level, Trump has maintained a rigorous public schedule as president. He also is an avid and frequent golfer, but expressed disdain for other forms of exercise.

"I just don't like it. It's boring," Trump said. "To walk on a treadmill or run on a treadmill for hours and hours like some people do, that's not for me."

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'My health is perfect' Trump says in new interview amid speculation

byAlex Forten

in

January 01, 2026

'Superstitious' Trump says he takes more aspirin than his doctors want

President Donald Trumpsaid in a new interview that he takes a higher daily dose of aspirin than his doctors recommend, co...

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