Donald Trump revealed he takes a daily aspirin dose far above medical guidance because he fears “thick blood.”
The 80-year-old president shared the disclosure at a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on Saturday, where he described his regimen in characteristically freewheeling terms. Trump, who was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency earlier this year, told the crowd he has been taking the painkiller for decades and has no intention of stopping despite his doctors’ concerns.
“I take an aspirin a day. I don’t know if it works but psychologically I need it,” he said. “It thins the hell out of your blood I guess. I don’t know if it works or not but I’ve been doing it for a long time.”
Trump went further, specifying a brand and strength that puzzled medical observers. “I like Bayer aspirin. And I take the big one. They want me to go down to the 80. I take the 386. I don’t know what the hell it is. It’s a monster,” he continued. “They said, ‘Sir, you don’t need that!’ I said, ‘do me a favor, I’ve been doing okay for 35 years. Leave me alone.'”
The “386” reference remains unclear, though standard daily aspirin doses typically fall in the 75mg to 81mg range. A 386mg dose would approach levels prescribed for serious conditions such as pulmonary arterial hypertension. Trump previously told the Wall Street Journal he takes 325mg daily, roughly four times what physicians consider a low dose.
The president’s comments came months after a visible health episode drew widespread attention. In 2025, he was spotted with a large bruise on his hand, fueling speculation about his physical condition during his second term. The CVI diagnosis, which involves damaged leg veins that fail to circulate blood properly, followed.
Trump addressed those concerns directly after a check-up at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 25. He took to Truth Social the same day to announce the results.
“Just finished my six month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out PERFECTLY,” he wrote. “Thank you to the great Doctors and Staff! Heading back to the White House.”
Medical experts note that excessive aspirin consumption carries documented risks. Side effects can include tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, hyperventilation, heavy sweating, dizziness, and light-headedness. More severe cases may involve confusion and hallucinations, with aspirin poisoning proving fatal in extreme instances.
The president’s self-directed approach to medication aligns with his broader pattern of overriding professional advice. His 2019-2020 promotion of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment, despite lacking scientific support, created a lasting template of medical skepticism. The aspirin disclosure fits that established profile of confidence in personal judgment over clinical recommendations.
Trump’s “psychologically I need it” framing suggests the habit carries a placebo component he openly acknowledges. His insistence on the “monster” dose despite decades of contrary medical counsel indicates the practice has become deeply entrenched in his daily routine.
The rally remarks arrived without accompanying documentation from his physicians about whether they have formally recommended against the current dosage. Trump’s own account positions the disagreement as ongoing, with doctors pushing for reduction and the president refusing.