WASHINGTON — The White House on Monday released a letter detailing the results of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan President Donald Trump underwent in October during what had been described as a “routine” physical.
The memo from Dr. Sean Barbabella, physician to the president, stated that Trump underwent the MRI “because men in his age group benefit from a thorough evaluation of cardiovascular and abdominal health.”
Although Trump referred to the tests as an MRI, Barbarella did not use the term in his memo.
The cardiac imaging test, which looks at the heart and its blood vessels, showed no evidence of arterial narrowing — a condition that occurs when plaque builds up and reduces blood flow. Symptoms can include chest pain and shortness of breath. He described the results as “perfectly normal.”
Barbabella wrote that there was “no evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow or abnormalities in the heart or major vessels. The heart chambers are normal in size, the vessel walls appear smooth and healthy, and there are no signs of inflammation or clotting.”
“Overall, his cardiovascular system shows excellent health,” Barbabella wrote.
“The purpose of this imaging is preventive: to identify issues early, confirm overall health, and ensure he maintains long-term vitality and function,” the memo says.
Despite Trump calling the MRI “routine”, this type of imaging is not standard during the typical annual physical, but some high-end “executive physicals” can include scans like full-body MRIs.
A memo from Barbabella in October said the checkup was part of Trump’s “ongoing health maintenance plan.” The president underwent “advanced imaging, laboratory testing, and preventative health assessments,” the doctor wrote, not mentioning the MRI.
Trump revealed he’d had the MRI scan while speaking to reporters on Air Force One a few weeks ago.
“We had an MRI, MRI and the machine, you know, the whole thing, and it was perfect,” he said.
“I think they gave you a very conclusive — nobody has ever given you reports like I gave you. And if I didn’t think it was going to be good, either I would let you know negatively, I wouldn’t run, I’d do something. But the doctors said some of the best reports for the age, some of the best reports they’ve ever seen,” Trump said at the time.
Speaking to reporters Sunday, Trump again said he had “no idea” what was scanned. “What part of the body? It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.”
