Donald Trump has addressed recent rumors and speculation regarding his health, countering claims that he has been falling asleep during public meetings.
The health of the president became a focal point in 2025 after observers noticed a ‘large bruise’ on his hand, seemingly covered up with a substantial amount of makeup by his team.
In addition, Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition resulting from damaged leg veins that fail to function properly.
Speculation even reached the point where there were online rumors about Trump having passed away after he was not seen in public for several days.
Despite maintaining that he is the ‘healthiest president ever’—a claim he reinforced after reportedly acing a cognitive test last year—some have accused him of dozing off during public engagements.
Addressing the situation, Trump explained in a recent interview that when cameras captured him ‘sleeping’, he was simply resting his eyes or blinking.
“I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me,” he explained to the Wall Street Journal. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”
Trump has often used the term ‘sleepy Joe’ to refer to his predecessor Joe Biden. However, some believe it’s Trump who has been caught nodding off at work.
During a cabinet meeting broadcasted nationwide last month, Trump claimed he is ‘sharper than I was 25 years ago’, but was seen nodding off throughout the extended session.
The discourse surrounding Trump’s health has been a popular topic of discussion for several months, a matter Trump addressed during the WSJ interview.
Trump explained that the bruises on his hands resulted from taking a high dose of aspirin to thin his blood—although not at a dosage usually recommended by doctors.
“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump told WSJ. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”
He further disclosed that he takes aspirin at four times the recommended dose due to his ‘superstitious’ nature.
Trump also mentioned that his skin has become more delicate with age and recounted an incident where Attorney General Pam Bondi accidentally cut his hand with her ring during a high-five at the Republican National Conference in 2024.