President Donald Trump offered to release the results of an MRI scan he underwent in October during an exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, while simultaneously admitting he did not know which part of his body had been scanned.
“If you want to have it released, I’ll release it,” the 79-year-old president told reporters as he traveled from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida back to Washington, D.C. The comment came after weeks of questions about the imaging procedure, which Trump first mentioned publicly on Oct. 27, 2025.
When pressed about the specifics of the MRI, Trump acknowledged he had “no idea” what part of his body was being examined. “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.”
The president then turned his attention to the reporters present, delivering a pointed remark about his performance on the cognitive assessment. “I got a perfect mark, which you would be incapable of doing,” he said, gesturing toward members of the press corps. The comment reflected Trump’s characteristically combative style when discussing his health and mental acuity with journalists.
The White House moved quickly to address lingering questions about the mysterious MRI. On Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the release of a memo from Dr. Sean Barbabella, Trump’s physician, providing details about the imaging procedure that had been conducted at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
According to the doctor’s statement, Trump had undergone MRI imaging on his heart and abdomen as part of what Barbabella characterized as preventative screening appropriate for men in the president’s age group. The physician noted that such “advanced imaging” is standard for an executive physical examination and serves an important medical purpose.
“The purpose of this imaging is preventative: to identify issues early, confirm overall health, and ensure he maintains long-term vitality and function,” Barbabella wrote in the memo. The doctor concluded that the cardiovascular and abdominal imaging showed results that were “perfectly normal.”
Executive physicals, which typically include additional testing beyond standard medical examinations, are often marketed to wealthy individuals and corporate executives. These comprehensive assessments frequently incorporate advanced imaging technologies like MRIs to provide detailed information about a patient’s health status. Unlike routine medical screening recommendations for the general population, these enhanced examinations offer a more thorough evaluation of potential health concerns.
The revelation about Trump’s MRI came months after his most recent comprehensive health assessment. On April 11, 2025, Trump underwent what the White House described as his annual physical examination. Following that checkup, Barbabella had declared the president to be in “excellent health,” a characterization he maintained after the October evaluation that included the MRI.
In the memo released Monday, Barbabella emphasized that Trump “continues to demonstrate excellent overall health.” The physician highlighted a particularly notable finding from the president’s cardiac evaluation, stating that Trump’s “cardiac age—a validated measure of cardiovascular vitality via ECG—was found to be approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age.”
The doctor also noted that Trump maintains what he described as “a demanding daily schedule,” suggesting the president’s health allows him to handle the rigorous responsibilities of his office. This assessment aligned with previous White House statements characterizing Trump as being in “exceptional physical health.”
When announcing the release of Barbabella’s memo, Leavitt emphasized the level of detail being provided to the public. “I think that’s quite a bit of detail,” the press secretary said, responding to questions about the disclosure. Her comments suggested the administration believed it had addressed concerns about transparency regarding the president’s medical status.
The episode highlighted ongoing public interest in presidential health, particularly for the nation’s oldest serving president. Trump’s willingness to tout his cognitive test results while simultaneously being uncertain about basic details of his medical care created an unusual moment that encapsulated his unconventional approach to discussing his health with the media.
MRI technology allows physicians to examine internal organs and tissues without invasive procedures, making it a valuable tool for detecting various medical conditions. The imaging can reveal information about cardiovascular health, identify potential tumors, and assess the condition of abdominal organs. For someone in Trump’s age bracket, such preventative screenings can provide early warning of potential health issues before they become serious problems.
