President Donald Trump has forcefully rejected suggestions he falls asleep during public meetings, while offering a vigorous defence of his physical condition after the first year of his second term prompted increasing scrutiny.
‘My health is perfect,’ insists 79-year-old president
In a detailed interview with the Wall Street Journal, the 79-year-old commander-in-chief, the oldest person ever to assume the US presidency, stated unequivocally that “my health is perfect.” He expressed clear frustration with the ongoing examination of his wellbeing by media and political opponents.
Trump specifically addressed instances where cameras have captured him with his eyes closed during White House gatherings. He denied outright that he was sleeping, insisting instead that he was “resting my eyes or blinking.”
“I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me,” the President explained. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”
Reveals high aspirin dose and ‘superstitious’ habit
During the same conversation, Trump revealed a personal health detail: he takes a larger daily dose of aspirin than medically recommended. He acknowledged that this habit causes him to bruise easily and said doctors have advised him to reduce his intake.
However, he has declined to follow this advice, citing a 25-year routine and a touch of superstition. “I’m a little superstitious,” he told the Journal.
Justifying his choice, Trump added, “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”
Other key developments from the Trump administration
The health defence was not the only news emanating from the Trump White House as 2026 began. The President welcomed the new year with a glitzy $2.75 million auction at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. The centrepiece was a freshly painted portrait of Jesus Christ, which sold for the multi-million dollar sum.
In international affairs, the administration’s announcement of a new $2 billion aid pledge was met with a mixed response. While offering relief after deep global aid cuts, experts voiced serious concerns over US demands for greater control over the funds. The State Department stated the UN must “adapt, shrink or die” by implementing changes, insisting the money be funnelled through a specific UN office pool rather than individual agencies.
On the domestic political front, new polling suggests abortion may be receding as a top priority for Democratic voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, despite several states preparing to vote on the issue this year.
In a lighter note, a writer for the satirical show South Park has purchased the domain name trumpkennedycenter.org, anticipating a potential name change for the prestigious arts venue after Trump installed himself as chair and filled its board with loyalists. The speculated change has already caused turbulence, with performers cancelling shows in protest.
Elsewhere, newly inaugurated New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani vowed to “reinvent” the metropolis, while the Trump administration faces a legal complaint over a new policy eliminating coverage for gender-affirming care in federal health insurance programmes.
