By Ayomide Otitoju
US President Donald Trump on Friday asserted that he is in “perfect health” and possesses strong cognitive abilities, a day after a media interview renewed scrutiny of his physical condition and fitness for office.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said White House physicians had certified his health status and confirmed that he had “aced” a cognitive examination for the third consecutive time. He added that he answered 100 percent of the questions correctly, noting that no previous president or vice president had been willing to take the test.
The comments followed a Wall Street Journal interview published on Thursday, in which Trump, 79, addressed questions about visible bruising on his right hand and reports that he appeared to fall asleep during televised meetings. Trump attributed the bruises to aspirin use and denied dozing off in public engagements.
During the interview, Trump also revised an earlier account of undergoing an MRI scan in October, clarifying that he had instead received a shorter CT scan.
Trump, the oldest person to assume the US presidency, has consistently sought to project an image of energy and stamina through frequent media appearances, active use of social media, and the circulation of AI-generated memes. However, observers have noted persistent bruising on his hand—often concealed with makeup or a bandage—as well as occasional ankle swelling.
There have also been instances in which Trump appeared to struggle to keep his eyes open, including during a November Oval Office meeting with health sector representatives. Addressing such moments previously, Trump said closing his eyes was “very relaxing” and suggested that photographs sometimes capture him mid-blink.
In his Friday post, Trump further argued that all presidential and vice-presidential candidates should be required to undergo what he described as a “strong, meaningful, and proven” cognitive examination. “Our great Country cannot be run by ‘stupid’ or incompetent people,” he wrote.
The remark was widely seen as a criticism of his predecessor, Joe Biden, who became the oldest president in US history and withdrew from the 2024 election race following a poor debate performance that intensified concerns about his age and mental sharpness.
