Trump Responds to Democrats' Demands to Release MRI

By Adeola Adeosun

Weekend Night Editor

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President Donald Trump said Sunday he would release the results of an MRI test he received in October, responding to mounting demands from Democrats for transparency about his health.

The president made the announcement while traveling back to Washington from Florida, telling reporters the test results were "perfect." Trump also stated he has no knowledge of which body part was examined, saying it was not his brain because he took and passed a cognitive test.

Newsweek previously reached out to the White House outside via email on Sunday for comment.

Why It Matters

There has been increased scrutiny around the health of Trump in recent months. He was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that is common in older adults, in July. There have been instances of bruises being visible on the president's hands, which have in turn sparked concern and questions over his health.

Trump confirmed that he had received an MRI at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in October as part of what the White House described as a routine physical. However, Trump told reporters he had “no idea what they analyzed.”

At 78 years old, Trump was the oldest man to assume the office of president, followed by Joe Biden. He turned 79 in June, and speculation about his health continues, particularly as this issue led to Biden’s exit from the race for president in 2024.

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What To Know

Democratic calls for the MRI results intensified after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz posted on X demanding their release, a message that garnered 8 million views.

The Minnesota governor, who served as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate in 2024, amplified his concerns during a Sunday appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, questioning whether anyone has ever received an MRI without knowing its purpose. The demands followed a late-night post from Trump criticizing immigration policy and using inflammatory language against Walz and Somali American Democratic Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar.

Other democratic figures including CNN commentator Adam Kinzinger, political influencer Harry Sisson, and the Democratic Governors Association have also joined the chorus calling for disclosure.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously stated Trump remains in "exceptional physical health" based on the imaging results. In August, Vice President JD Vance spoke about Trump’s health, telling USA Today, "I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people.”

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What People Are Sying

President Donald Trump, in response to reporters Sunday: "If you want to have it released, I'll release it. What part of the body? It wasn't the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it."

Adam Kinzinger, a commentator for CNN, in a post on X: “Release the MRI results.”

President Trump previously responded to rumors about his health, writing: "NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE."

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said during an appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press on Sunday: "Here we got a guy on Thanksgiving where we spent time with our families, we ate, we played Yahtzee, we cheered for football or whatever. This guy is, apparently, in a room ranting about everything else. This is not normal behavior. It is not healthy. And presidents throughout time have released a couple things. They've released their tax returns, not Donald Trump, and they've released their medical records, not Donald Trump….The president's fading physically, I think the mental capacity, again, ranting, you know, crazily at midnight on Thanksgiving about everything else. There are reasons for us to be concerned. This is a guy that randomly says the airspace over Venezuela is closed. He's ruminating on if you could win a nuclear war. Look, this is a serious position. It's the most powerful position in the world, and we have someone at midnight throwing around slurs that demonize our children. And at the same time, he's not solving any of the problems. I'm deeply concerned that he is incapable of doing the job."