Doctor says Trump had preventative screening MRI on heart, abdomen with
'perfectly normal' results
[December 02, 2025]
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump' s doctor says the president had
MRI imaging on his heart and abdomen in October as part of a
preventative screening for men his age, according to a memo from the
physician released by the White House on Monday.
Sean Barbabella said in a statement that Trump’s physical exam included
“advanced imaging” that is “standard for an executive physical” in
Trump’s age group. Barbabella concluded that the cardiovascular and
abdominal imaging was “perfectly normal.”
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President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while in flight on Air
Force One from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., to Joint Base
Andrews, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) |
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“The purpose of this imaging is preventative: to identify issues
early, confirm overall health, and ensure he maintains long-term
vitality and function,” the doctor wrote.
The White House released Barbabella's memo after Trump on Sunday
said he would release the results of the scan. He and the White
House have said the scan was “part of his routine physical
examination” but had declined until Monday to detail why Trump
had an MRI during his physical in October at Walter Reed
National Military Medical Center or on what part of his body.
“I think that’s quite a bit of detail,” White House press
secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday when announcing the
memo's release.
The Republican president said Sunday during an exchange with
reporters as he traveled back to Washington from Florida that
the results of the MRI were “perfect.”
“If you want to have it released, I’ll release it,” Trump said.
Trump added Sunday that he has “no idea” on what part of his
body he got the MRI.
“It was just an MRI,” he said. “What part of the body? It wasn’t
the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.”
Doctors typically order an MRI to help with diagnosing symptoms
or to monitor an ongoing health problem. So-called "preventive”
cardiac and abdominal MRIs are not part of routine screening
recommendations. What Trump’s doctor called an “executive
physical” generally refers to adding extra, non-routine tests
including MRIs to pricey and lengthy exams, not covered by
insurance, that are marketed to wealthy people.
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