US President Donald Trump addressed mounting questions about his health and a recent MRI scan, emphatically defending his mental and physical fitness while taunting reporters during an exchange aboard Air Force One on Sunday.
❓ The MRI Controversy
Public scrutiny intensified following an October physical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, during which President Trump underwent an MRI scan. The White House has consistently declined to provide details on the reason for the scan or the part of the body tested.
- Trump’s Denial: When questioned by reporters, the 79-year-old President claimed he had “no idea” what part of his body was scanned, stating, “It was just an MRI.”
- The Cognitive Test: He quickly asserted that the scan “wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it,” a reference to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a dementia screening test he has previously boasted about passing with a “perfect” score.
- Release Offer: Trump stated he would have no problems releasing the results, insisting they were “perfect.”
Adding further controversy, Trump pointed a finger at his head and taunted two of the reporters, saying they would be “incapable” of passing the same cognitive test he took.
📸 Mar-a-Lago Photo and ‘Sleepy Joe’ Comparison
Concerns about President Trump’s health were sparked by a photograph from his Mar-a-Lago club showing him sitting by a window with his eyes closed and mouth open, leading critics to suggest he looked “tired and sleepy.”
- Social Media Scrutiny: The photo was widely shared on the social media platform X, with users demanding the release of the MRI results and commenting that the President is “seen falling asleep frequently.”
- Political Comparison: The incident led to comparisons with his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden—whom Trump frequently refers to as “Sleepy Joe”—on the health count. Ironically, the tired-looking Trump photo was juxtaposed with a picture of a “sprightly” looking Joe Biden in Nantucket, drawing attention to the political weaponization of age and health.
💬 White House Statement
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has maintained that the President received “advanced imaging” as part of a routine physical examination and that the results show Trump remains in “exceptional physical health.”