Trump dismisses exercise as 'boring', pushes back on health speculation

President Donald Trump said that golf was his only exercise, dismissing treadmill workouts meant to boost heart health as 'boring'
UPDATED JAN 1, 2026
President Donald Trump said that genetics were 'very important' for health, noting both his parents stayed energetic late in life (Getty Images)
President Donald Trump said that genetics were 'very important' for health, noting both his parents stayed energetic late in life (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump started 2026 while addressing the ongoing concerns about his health in a conversation with The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, January 1.

During the interview, he commented on the ongoing speculation about his hearing and his falling asleep during cabinet meetings, and also shared his honest thoughts on the traditional forms of exercise. 

Donald Trump said that the only form of exercise he took part in was golf, calling other traditional forms of exercise to improve cardiovascular functions "boring."

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: U.S. President Donald Trump exits Air Force One for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump exits Air Force One for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Florida (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Trump admits taking more aspirin than advised

The president further chimed in on the traditional forms of exercise, noting that he didn’t like them. He added that he believed walking or running on the treadmill for hours was “boring” and that while it might work for some people, it was “not” for him. 

Donald Trump also commented on his prescribed medication, adding that he was taking 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, something his doctors had recommended he lower the dose of. 

Explaining the same, he added that he was told aspirin was good for “thinning out” blood and that he didn’t want “thick blood” pouring through his heart.

“I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?” he added.

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - MAY 01: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to graduating students at the Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Trump's remarks come the day before commencement ceremonies. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump delivers remarks to graduating students at the Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The president further chimed in on his “good health” and chalked it up to having good genetics. He said genetics were “very important” as he revealed that both his parents were energetic later in life as well. 

Trump says his medical tests gave the media ‘ammunition’

As he commented on his health being a recurring topic for the media, Donald Trump chimed in on his recent cardiovascular and abdominal scans in October 2025.

The president stated that he believed that, in retrospect, he shouldn’t have done the scans because they “gave them a little ammunition.”

“I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t (have that ammunition), because the fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong,” Trump stated.

U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is holding the first Cabinet meeting of his second term, joined by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on February 26, 2025, in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Trump was also asked about allegedly falling asleep during cabinet meetings, a claim he denied. He said that reporters caught him while blinking, and added that he would sometimes just close his eyes to relax.

The president also poked fun at reports about him being hard of hearing, and said that he only had trouble when multiple people spoke at once, as he repeatedly said "I can't hear you," while in conversation with the Wall Street Journal reporter. 

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