In October 2025, President Donald J. Trump underwent advanced imaging at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Although the test was initially described by his physicians as an MRI, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, later disclosed that the imaging in fact was a CT scan. The CT was described as the test chosen to definitively rule out cardiovascular issues, with the imaging results later characterized as perfectly normal.
Barbella noted that doctors have the option to use either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) depending on the clinical question, and in this instance CT was selected to address concerns about heart health as part of a precautionary health-monitoring regimen. The results were reported as normal, with no abnormalities detected.
White House communications emphasized Trump’s ongoing exceptional health, and Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, helped relay details of the procedure and its outcomes. Coverage from ABC News and CBS News highlighted the sequence of events, including a Wall Street Journal interview with Trump and his physician that disclosed the change in imaging modality.
By January 1, 2026, Trump and his physician defended the decision to use CT, while White House communications continued to stress the president’s robust health. The disclosure has intensified debate over transparency surrounding presidential health tests and the information released to the public.