President Donald Trump has admitted that he had an MRI earlier this month that was supposed to be just a routine medical checkup.
The 79-year-old told reporters that the scan was done on October 10. visiting Walter Reed Medical Center, clearing up some of the confusion about what actually happened during the checkup.
While flying from Malaysia to Japan during an extended tour of Asia, Trump said: “I got an MRI; it was perfect.”
He did not say what prompted the test, which is not usually done during routine inspections, although reporters asked directly.
There has long been speculation about Trump’s physical well-being, although the White House insists he is the picture of health.
“I have given you all the results,” he continued. “We had an MRI…you know everything. And it was perfect.”
The president said his test results were positive, though he did not say why he had them in the first place. / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images.
Asked “what exactly” that meant, Trump said, “You can ask the doctors.”
He said doctors were on the plane. “I think they’ve given you a very convincing opinion—no one has ever given you such reports as I have. And if I didn’t think it would be good too, I’d give you a negative report.”
“I wouldn’t run, I’d do something. Uh, um. The doctors gave the best reports – in that age – some of the best reports they’d ever seen.”
In October, the White House released a one-page memo after his visit to Walter Reed that said Trump’s “general health is excellent.”
It said he underwent “advanced imaging, laboratory tests and preventive health evaluations.”
At a White House press conference last Thursday, Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, was asked what “advanced imaging” meant.
Trump is on a diplomatic tour of Asia, here in 2025. October 27 Seen with Japanese Emperor Naruhito in the Imperial Palace. / Pool / Getty Images
She did not mention that he had an MRI.
Instead, she said, “Advanced imaging is something that presidents get and people get when they go to the doctor. So we’re providing a comprehensive picture of that physical exam, and I would encourage you to go back to that.”
She added: “I don’t know the exact imaging that was done because the doctor’s note says the president is in incredibly good shape, and I think that’s evidenced here every day.”
Rumors of Trump’s ailments continue to cast a gray cloud over his claims of perfect health. / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images.
Bruises on the backs of the president’s hands, as well as swollen ankles, have become a familiar sight during his public appearances.
An MRI scan, or magnetic resonance imaging, is used to evaluate a variety of conditions that commonly affect organs, soft tissues, bones, and joints.
They are designed to provide doctors with a detailed picture of the inside of the human body.
Bruises on the backs of Trump’s hands have been spotted several times. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
According to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, “it is often used for disease detection, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring.”
The White House announced in July that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. The condition is often associated with swelling of the legs. It is common in older people and is benign.
During Trump’s diplomatic tour of Asia, he met with leaders in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before heading to Japan to meet the country’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Emperor Naruhito.
He is due to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.
The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.