‘It was perfect’: Trump says he underwent an MRI scan

By Trevor Hunnicutt

US President Donald Trump says he has undergone an MRI examination, without saying why.

“It was perfect,” he told reporters on board Air Force One en route to Tokyo on Monday as he also refused to rule out seeking a third term in office..

A magnetic resonance imaging scan uses magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of the body.

It can be used to monitor a range of conditions.

Trump, 79, was the oldest person to be inaugurated as US president when he retook the White House in January, and he is the second-oldest person to serve in the top job.

Earlier in October, the US president’s doctor said Trump was found to be in “exceptional health” in a medical evaluation.

In July, the White House disclosed that Trump was experiencing swelling in his lower legs and bruising on his right hand, after photographs showed the president with swollen ankles and makeup covering the afflicted part of his hand.

Trump’s physician, Sean Barbabella, said in a letter released by the White House at the time that tests confirmed the leg issue was due to “chronic venous insufficiency” – a benign and common condition, especially in people older than 70.

The doctor said the bruising on Trump’s hand was consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent hand shaking and aspirin use, which Trump takes as part of a “standard cardiovascular prevention regimen”.

Since then, the White House has played down concerns about Trump’s health, without detailing how the leg issue is being treated.

Trump received a royal welcome in Japan, the latest leg of a five-day Asia trip which he hopes to cap with an agreement on a trade war truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump, on his longest journey abroad since taking office in January, announced deals with four Southeast Asian countries during the first stop in Malaysia and will conclude his trip at a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

Negotiators from the world’s top two economies hashed out a framework on Sunday for a deal to pause steeper American tariffs and Chinese rare earths export controls, US officials said – news that drove Asian stocks to record peaks.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for President Xi and I think we’re going to come away with a deal,” Trump told reporters.

Wearing a gold tie and blue suit, Trump shook hands with officials on the tarmac and gave a few fist pumps, before his helicopter whisked him off for a scenic night tour of Tokyo.

His motorcade was later seen entering the Imperial Palace grounds, where he met Japanese Emperor Naruhito.

Trump has already landed a $US550 billion investment pledge from Tokyo in exchange for respite from punishing import tariffs.

Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is hoping to further impress Trump with promises to purchase US trucks, soybeans and gas and announce an agreement on shipbuilding, sources with knowledge of the plans told Reuters.

Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female premier last week, told Trump strengthening their countries’ alliance was her “top priority” in their first phone call on Saturday.