President Donald Trump disclosed on Monday, October 27, 2025, that he underwent an MRI scan during his visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday, October 10, 2025, marking the first time he has confirmed the specific type of advanced imaging he received during what officials described as a routine checkup.
The revelation came as Trump traveled aboard Air Force One to Japan, where he answered reporters’ questions about the medical examination that had prompted speculation about his health.
The 79-year-old president characterized the results of his scan in characteristically confident terms. “I got an MRI. It was perfect,” Trump told reporters during the flight. When pressed about why he needed the imaging procedure, Trump deflected, telling journalists to ask his physicians. The president maintained that his medical team provided thorough information about his condition, though he declined to specify the clinical reason for ordering the scan.
The disclosure came after days of questions from reporters about the nature of Trump’s October 10 hospital visit. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had struggled to provide specific details during a briefing last week, unable to confirm what type of advanced imaging the president received. When asked directly whether Trump underwent an MRI, Leavitt admitted she did not know the exact imaging procedures that took place, stating only that the president was in incredibly good shape.
Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, released a one-page memo following the October 10 examination stating that Trump remained in exceptional health with strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance. The evaluation included advanced imaging, laboratory testing, and preventative health assessments conducted by a multidisciplinary team of specialists. Barbabella noted the examination helped prepare Trump for upcoming overseas trips, though he did not specifically mention the MRI in his official statement.
The October visit to Walter Reed marked Trump’s second physical examination of 2025, following a similar checkup in April when his physician declared him in excellent overall health. The timing raised eyebrows among observers who noted that presidents typically undergo comprehensive annual physicals rather than semiannual examinations. Trump later characterized the visit as a sort of semi-annual physical, indicating he preferred to schedule medical checkups early and frequently when convenient.
Trump’s health has been subject to increased scrutiny in recent months following the July 2025 diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency. The condition, which affects veins in the legs and prevents proper blood flow back to the heart, was identified after Trump noticed swelling in his lower extremities. Leavitt announced at the time that Trump underwent evaluation by the White House medical unit, which diagnosed the vein condition described by Barbabella as benign and common in older individuals.
The president has also faced questions about regular bruising visible on his right hand, which he has occasionally covered with heavy makeup. The White House attributed the bruising to frequent handshaking combined with aspirin use, which Trump takes as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen. However, Barbabella’s October 10 memo made no mention of either the vein condition or the hand bruising, focusing instead on Trump’s overall health metrics.
MRI technology uses strong magnetic fields to create detailed images of internal body structures, according to the National Institutes of Health. The imaging technique proves particularly useful for examining soft tissues, organs, and the skeletal system. While MRI scans serve as common diagnostic tools, they typically are not part of standard routine checkups, leading to questions about what specific concern prompted Trump’s physicians to order the procedure.
During his Air Force One comments, Trump connected his health status to questions about his political future, telling reporters that if his health screenings revealed something problematic, he would not pursue another presidential campaign. He emphasized that his doctors provided some of the best reports they had ever seen for someone his age. Barbabella’s memo claimed Trump possessed the cardiovascular health of a 65-year-old, despite being 14 years older.
The president spent approximately three hours at the Walter Reed facility in Bethesda, Maryland, on October 10. During the visit, he also received his annual flu vaccination and a COVID-19 booster shot in preparation for international travel. The examination took place as Trump prepared for an extended trip through Asia, including stops in Japan and Malaysia.
Trump remains one of the oldest presidents to serve in U.S. history, having been inaugurated at age 79 in January 2025. He holds the distinction of being both the oldest person to be inaugurated and the second-oldest person to serve as president. The age factor has prompted increased attention to his medical status and transparency regarding his health conditions.
