President Donald Trump disclosed in an exclusive Wall Street Journal interview that heavy bruising on the back of his hands stems from taking a higher daily dose of aspirin than his physicians recommend. The 79-year-old president described his practice as “doing it for years,” explaining that he prefers “nice, thin blood pouring through my heart” to avoid “thick blood pouring through my heart.”

Contradicting White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s earlier assertion that the bruising resulted from frequent hand-shaking, Trump emphasized the medication’s role: “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood… I take the larger one.” Medical records indicate Trump consumes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, though Mayo Clinic guidelines specify low-dose therapy ranges between 75 and 100 milligrams for cardiovascular prevention.

The president’s staff previously attributed his hand bruising to “minor soft tissue irritation” from constant hand-shaking and aspirin side effects. Leavitt noted the bruises align with these causes, stating Trump follows a “standard cardiovascular prevention regiment.” Trump has long experienced hand bruising, which gained renewed attention after he began covering it with bandages and makeup during public appearances. His physician confirmed the president’s recent medical exams showed no signs of heart failure, renal impairment, or systemic illness.