Trump Says He 'Psychologically' Needs Daily Aspirin as Doctors Recommend He Switch to a Lower Dose

President Donald Trump told supporters he takes a daily aspirin because he 'psychologically' needs it, even as he said his doctors have recommended he move to a lower dose.

Speaking at a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on 3 October, Trump said he had taken aspirin every day for decades. He referred to his usual dose as both 325 milligrams and '386' during the same remarks, creating uncertainty over the exact amount.

'I take an aspirin a day. I don't know if it works, but psychologically I need it,' Trump told the crowd, according to footage of the rally. 'It thins the hell out of your blood, I guess. I don't know if it works or not, but I've been doing it for a long time. And here I am making speeches.'

Trump did not identify the doctors who had advised him to reduce the dose. Available reports also do not include a medical statement from the White House explaining his aspirin use or the recommendation.

Trump's Daily Aspirin Routine

Trump previously discussed his aspirin use in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, according to the reports. He described himself as superstitious about the medication and said he had taken a large dose consistently for more than two decades.

'They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don't want thick blood pouring through my heart,' he said at the time. 'I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?'

At the Ohio rally, Trump praised Bayer aspirin, referring to it as the 'little yellow' pill. He then said his doctors had encouraged him to switch to a lower dose.

'They want me to go down to the 80. I take the 386. I don't know what the hell it is. It's a monster,' Trump said. 'They said, Sir, you don't need that! I said, "Do me a favour, I've been doing okay for 35 years. Leave me alone."'

The report also says that 325 milligrams is more than four times the 81 milligrams commonly associated with low-dose aspirin. However, it does not identify the medical authority behind the recommendation or explain why Trump's doctors reportedly wanted him to take less.

Why Trump Says He Keeps Taking It

Trump's remarks focused not only on the amount of aspirin he takes but also on his stated need to maintain the routine.

'I don't know if it works, but psychologically I need it,' he said. The comment offered a glimpse into how he views a medication habit he has maintained for many years, although it does not establish the medical benefit of his current regimen.

Trump described the larger tablet as a 'monster' and suggested that his long-term use of aspirin had made him reluctant to change. 'I've been doing okay for 35 years,' he said in response to the reported advice from his doctors. 'Leave me alone.'

He also repeated his view that aspirin helps keep his blood thin, telling the audience that he wanted 'nice, thin blood pouring through my heart.' The available material does not confirm whether his doctors share that explanation or have publicly discussed the risks and benefits of his reported dose.

What Has Been Confirmed

Trump's comments provide the basis for reporting that he takes aspirin daily, believes he needs the routine psychologically and has been advised to take a lower dose. They do not establish the exact amount he currently takes or the medical reasoning behind the advice.

The comments also do not provide enough information to assess whether his aspirin use is appropriate for his individual health circumstances. Aspirin use can depend on a person's medical history and should be determined with a doctor rather than based on a public figure's account.

Trump has often presented physical stamina as part of his public image. At the Ohio rally, he used his continued ability to make speeches as part of his argument that the long-standing routine had not caused an obvious problem. 'I don't know if it works or not,' he said, 'but I've been doing it for a long time.'