Karoline Leavitt makes wild health claim while dodging on Trump's curious MRI
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 4, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that President Donald Trump was in "optimal physical health" after CNN's Kristen Holmes noted that patients do not typically undergo MRI procedures during routine health screenings.

"Why did President Trump get an MRI?" Holmes asked during Tuesday's White House press briefing.

"Look, as President Trump said, he would inquire of the physicians," Leavitt replied. "I'll check back on that. But as the physical itself stated, Kristen, and as you all know, because you all are witness to it every single day, the president is in optimal physical health."

"This was a follow-up appointment, and we provided a detailed readout of that physical," she continued. "I'm happy to give it to you again, and I can inquire further."

Holmes pointed out that "an MRI is a very specific procedure."

"It's done on a part of the body looking for something specific, so it's not generally part of any kind of routine checkup," the reporter observed. "And in addition, President Trump has said that he wants to be transparent. He has told us to ask the doctors, which we have and have not heard back. Why don't we have more information on this?"

"As I said, I'll check back for you," Leavitt remarked.