US President Donald Trump, who turns 80 in June, said he feels the same way he did half a century ago.
“I feel great, both physically and mentally. I feel the same way I did 50 years ago. It's crazy“, he said in an interview with NBC News.
The US leader added that he understood that he would not be able to make such statements in the future, but “that time has not come yet“. He also said that he undergoes medical examinations mainly to report to the public. "I do it because I have no problem with it," he concluded.
On January 2, Trump announced that he had undergone a medical examination, according to which the White House doctors concluded that he was in perfect health.
He said that he did not intend to give up high-dose aspirin, despite the recommendations of doctors.
"I have been taking aspirin for 30 years and I do not want to change anything," he said. "The doctors say, 'Take less,' and I say, 'I want my blood to be good and thin when it goes through my heart.'"
“The Wall Street Journal“ previously reported that the 79-year-old Trump is trying to hide the physical signs of aging and possible illnesses by using makeup to cover up bruises on his hands. The US president himself said in an interview with the publication that he has been taking more aspirin than his doctors recommend to thin his blood for 25 years and periodically ignores doctors' advice, relying on "good genetics".
Trump practically admitted that he considers Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to be his most likely successors in the 2028 elections, but did not specify which of them he sees as the Republican presidential candidate.
“I think the combination of J.D. and Marco would be very difficult to beat, but you never know in politics”, he said. Trump stressed that a final decision has not yet been made and that the Republicans have a “great bench“.
The American leader refused to specify who he prioritized in the “combination“ of Vance and Rubio. “I don't want to go into detail; we still have three years. I have two A's and I don't want to provoke controversy. J.D. is fantastic, and Marco is fantastic. I think they're both very smart, one of them is a little more diplomatic. There are some differences in their styles“, Trump noted.
The claims that Russia somehow interfered in the US election process are just fabrications, the US president said.
“Everybody was talking about Russia, and it turned out to be a hoax“, he stressed.
The head of state acknowledged that foreign countries can influence US elections. “We need fair elections“, he added.
Trump said that the US is in contact with Cuba.
“We are talking to Cuba“, Trump said, refusing to answer a question about whether he believes that the current Cuban leadership will remain in power at the end of his presidential term.
The American leader also said that “Cuba has big problems“ and that “humanitarian aid should be sent there“.