Trump Confirms He Takes Higher Daily Dose of Aspirin for Blood-Thinning Effect

President Donald Trump confirmed in a new interview that he takes a higher-than-recommended daily dose of aspirin and suggested he’ll continue to do so for the blood-thinning effects of the medication.

Trump told The Wall Street Journal in an article published on Jan. 1 that his doctors suggested he take a lower dose of aspirin after his physician said that he takes 325 milligrams of the drug per day—higher than the previously recommended dosage of 81 milligrams per day.

The president’s doctor, Sean Barbabella, told the Journal that Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily for the prevention of cardiac issues.

“They’d rather have me take the smaller one,” Trump said. “I take the larger one, but I’ve done it for years, and what it does do is it causes bruising.”

But Trump said that “they say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”

For decades, medical experts have recommended a daily dose of 81 milligrams of aspirin per day for older adults to stave off cardiovascular disease or stroke.

In 2019, that guidance was reversed after the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology announced new guidelines about taking low-dose aspirin. They’ve noted that taking one 81-milligram aspirin—sometimes called “baby aspirin”—per day could lead to risks of gastrointestinal or internal bleeding.

Health officials have said that aspirin can irritate the lining of the stomach, triggering internal bleeding, ulcers, or gastrointestinal problems. Because it’s a blood thinner, aspirin also can be dangerous for people who are at a high risk of bleeding, guidelines say.

But under recent medical guidelines, people who have a personal history of heart attack or stroke are advised to take a low-dose daily aspirin, typically around 81 milligrams.

Trump, who is due to turn 80 in June, said that he’s been taking the 325-milligram dose of aspirin every day for 25 years, noting to the WSJ, “I’m a little superstitious.”

When asked about a recent MRI, Trump and Barbabella told the Journal that the president actually got a CT scan. Barbabella said Trump’s doctors had initially said they would perform either an MRI or a CT scan, but decided to do the latter “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues.”

It revealed no abnormalities, according to Barbabella.

The president also commented on his decision to get an abdominal and cardiovascular scan in October.

“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.”

At the start of the interview, Trump said jokingly, “Let’s talk about health again for the 25th time. My health is perfect.”

Trump added that he has a lot of energy, attributing it to genetics, noting that both his parents remained energetic even in old age.

“Genetics are very important,” he stated. “And I have very good genetics.”

Reuters contributed to this report.