Ex-Cheney physician says Trump aspirin regimen 'makes no sense'

Dr. Jonathan Reiner, cardiologist to the late former Vice President Dick Cheney, dismissed President Trump’s aspirin regimen Thursday.

The president told the Wall Street Journal that he takes a larger dose of the pain reliever to thin his blood, despite recommendations from his doctors to reduce intake.

“I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” added Trump, 79. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”

But Reiner told host Phil Mattingly on CNN’s “The Lead” that it, in fact, “makes no sense.”

“That actually makes nonsense,” he continued. “First of all, when we use any kind of anticoagulant, medications to prevent clotting, those don’t thin the blood. It’s not like changing something from gumbo to chicken soup. It doesn’t make it thinner. It makes you less likely to clot.”

When used, aspirin thins the blood and prevents clots from forming, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA notes, though, that people older than 70 taking aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke can do more harm than good due to the risk of bleeding.

Trump, the oldest president to take the oath of office, has dismissed concerns over his health throughout his first year back in the White House. 

He clarified to the Journal that he received a CT scan for cardiovascular and abdominal imaging when he visited Walter Reed Medical Center in October for a “secondary” physical. Trump told reporters in late October that he underwent a cognitive test and MRI scan, the latter of which he said was “perfect,” during the visit.

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

Trump’s physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said in a memo last month that the scans were done “because men in his age group benefit from a thorough evaluation of cardiovascular and abdominal health” and said the assessment was “standard for an executive physical at President Trump’s age.”

Barbabella also told the Journal in a statement that the scans “revealed no abnormalities.” The president also wrote on Truth Social on Friday that he is in “perfect health” and “aced” a cognitive exam for the third consecutive time.