President Donald Trump struggled to recall the term “Alzheimer’s” while discussing his father’s health in a recent interview with New York Magazine. The 79-year-old president, describing his father Fred Trump’s later years, paused and asked, “At a certain age, about 86, 87, he started getting, what do they call it?” He gestured to his forehead and looked toward White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt before adding, “Like an Alzheimer’s thing. Well, I don’t have it.”
Trump repeatedly asserted he is in “perfect” health during the Oval Office interview, which was also attended by two doctors from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. When he asked Colonel James Jones, a physician’s assistant, “Real fast, is my health perfect?” Jones replied, “Your health is excellent, sir.” Trump also claimed he has “aced” three cognitive tests, though concerns about his mental fitness have persisted since he became the oldest US president sworn into office at 78.
The interview also addressed visible bruising on Trump’s right hand, which his physician attributed to frequent hand-shaking and aspirin intake. A similar bruise on his left hand appeared after the World Economic Forum in Davos, with Leavitt saying Trump “hit his hand on the corner of the signing table.” Additionally, Trump’s medical team clarified that a previously mentioned MRI was actually a CT scan of his chest and abdomen, which they described as routine for a patient his age and yielded “perfect” results.
Trump’s mental acuity has been questioned by figures such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who cited late-night rants and erratic statements. The White House has also disclosed that Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition causing blood pooling in the legs.
