President Donald Trump has clarified that medical imaging he received at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in October was a computed tomography scan rather than the magnetic resonance imaging procedure he had previously described to reporters.
In an interview published Thursday, Trump acknowledged the distinction when questioned about the specifics of the procedure. “It wasn’t an MRI,” the president stated. “It was less than that. It was a scan.”
For several weeks, Trump had referred to the procedure as an MRI when discussing his medical tests with reporters, including during remarks aboard Air Force One last month where he indicated he would release the results. The president had characterized the imaging as part of his annual physical examination.
Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, the president’s physician, confirmed to reporters that Trump underwent a CT scan rather than an MRI. According to Barbabella, medical staff initially informed the president they would perform either procedure, both of which serve similar diagnostic purposes through different technological means. While MRI technology employs magnetic fields and radio waves to generate internal images, CT scans utilize X-ray technology to produce comparable results.
The White House released results from Trump’s advanced imaging tests on December 1st, describing the findings as perfectly normal. Barbabella indicated at that time that such imaging serves to confirm the president’s overall health status and identify potential issues before they develop into serious conditions.
According to Barbabella’s statement, the CT scan was conducted to definitively eliminate any cardiovascular concerns and revealed no abnormalities. The physician reiterated Thursday that the president remains in exceptional health and fully capable of executing his duties as Commander in Chief.
The confusion regarding the type of imaging began in late October when Trump first discussed the procedure publicly. “I got an MRI. It was perfect,” Trump said at that time, adding that he had provided complete results from the examination.
Despite the president’s repeated references to an MRI over subsequent weeks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained Thursday that the administration and medical staff have consistently described the procedure as advanced imaging without specifying the particular technology employed.
Trump expressed some regret about undergoing the preventative scan, suggesting to reporters that the procedure itself has generated unnecessary speculation about his health. “In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition,” the president said. “I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t, because the fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong.”
The president also disclosed that he takes a substantial daily dose of aspirin, which has caused him to bruise more easily than in the past.
The clarification comes as medical transparency remains a subject of public interest regarding presidential health, a standard that has evolved considerably over recent decades of American political life.
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