President Donald Trump speaks during the New Year's Eve Party at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Fla., on Dec. 31, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump, who will turn 80 on June 14, 2026, has faced growing scrutiny over his health, something that was the focus of his recent interview with The Wall Street Journal. He told the newspaper that he regretted undergoing advanced imaging in October, saying it gave way to increased questions about his health.
"In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition," Trump told the Journal. "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."
In October, Trump had a cardiovascular and abdominal scan, something that Navy Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, the physician to the president, noted in a memorandum to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
In his report, Barbabella stated that the evaluation, which he described as being part of the president's "ongoing health maintenance plan," included advanced imaging, lab tests and preventative health assessments. Barbabella stated that "Trump continues to demonstrate excellent overall health" and noted that the president "continues to maintain a demanding daily schedule without restriction."
Leavitt read Barbabella's report during a press briefing on Dec. 1. The summary that Leavitt read clarified that, "Advanced imaging was performed because men in his age group benefit from a thorough evaluation of cardiovascular and abdominal health." The summary noted that the imaging was done as a preventative measure "to identify any issues early, confirm overall health and ensure the president maintains long term vitality and function."
The summary noted that Trump's cardiovascular and abdominal imaging were "perfectly normal." Additionally, it said that "all major organs appear very healthy."
Then-President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with then-President Joe Biden at Trump's inauguration in the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 20, 2025. (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)
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Health was a central issue of the 2024 presidential race, particularly before then-President Joe Biden dropped out. Trump has often accused Biden of concealing the true extent of his health issues with the public.
Speculation about Biden's struggles were fueled by his lack of interactions with the press and reluctance to take part in unscripted exchanges. The 46th president's apparent cognitive issues became increasingly clear when he struggled during a debate with Trump in June 2024. During the debate, Biden appeared to lose his train of thought and stumbled over words.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-claims-white-house-doctors-report-him-perfect-health-says-he-aced-third-straight-cognitive-exam