The White House on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, offered a fresh update on President Donald Trump’s medical status following questions about an MRI he received in October, saying he “remains in exceptional physical health.”
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the scan was part of the president’s routine physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and that results were reviewed by radiologists and outside consultants.
“As stated in the memo provided on October 10, President Trump received advanced imaging at Walter Reed Medical Center as part of his routine physical examination,” Leavitt said during the daily briefing. “The full results were reviewed by attending radiologists and consultants, and all agreed that President Trump remains in exceptional physical health.”
In October, the president himself acknowledged the MRI when speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. “I got an MRI, it was perfect,” Trump said at the time.
“I gave you the full results. We had an MRI, and the machine, you know, the whole thing, and it was perfect.”
What the physician’s memo says
A memorandum dated October 10 from Navy Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, the physician to the president, described the Walter Reed visit as part of an ongoing health maintenance plan.
The document said the evaluation included “advanced imaging, laboratory testing and preventative health assessments conducted by a multidisciplinary team of specialists.” Barbabella wrote that Trump “remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance.”
The October checkup was the president’s second of 2025, following an April visit that also reported excellent results. The White House has said the scheduling aligns with the president’s travel demands and preventative care plan, which calls for periodic screening as age and workload warrant, not just a single annual exam.
The outstanding question about the MRI
While the administration confirmed the October MRI occurred, it has not specified what part of the body was imaged.
Reporters pressed for additional detail on Wednesday, asking whether the scan was prompted by a specific concern or simply part of broader “advanced imaging.” Leavitt reiterated that the procedure was included in the routine physical and that specialists reviewed the results before the memo’s release.
Medical experts note that MRI can be used to evaluate the brain, heart and vascular system, spine, joints and soft tissue, but it is not typically part of a standard physical. The White House has framed the October testing as an exercise in comprehensive preventive care that occasionally includes more sophisticated imaging depending on a physician’s judgment.
Earlier concerns and public speculation
Public questions about Trump’s health intensified over the summer. In July, cameras captured images of the president with swollen legs during an appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey, and separate photos that month showed bruising on his hands.
The press office addressed both issues at the time. Reading from a health memo, Leavitt said the swelling reflected a “benign and common condition” for people over 70, and she attributed the bruising to frequent handshaking coupled with aspirin use.
The White House argues the October memo, together with statements from the president’s doctor, counters the speculation. Officials say the results, including the MRI, support the assessment that Trump is medically fit for the demands of the office.
The administration has also sought to place the checkup in the context of the president’s travel tempo, citing preparations for overseas trips that call for routine reviews of cardiovascular and respiratory performance.
