The MeidasTouch Podcast: Dr. Vin Gupta Addresses Major Concerns on Trump’s Health

Date: January 2, 2026
Host(s): Ben Meiselas (with Brett & Jordy Meiselas, MeidasTouch Network)
Guest: Dr. Vin Gupta (Midas Health)

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This episode dives into escalating questions about Donald Trump’s health following his recent public appearances and noteworthy reports. The Meiselas brothers are joined by pulmonary and public health expert Dr. Vin Gupta, who offers detailed insight into the medical inconsistencies surrounding Trump’s health disclosures and provides practical advice for listeners struggling with changes to Affordable Care Act coverage.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. Public Concerns Over Trump’s Recent Health

• Observations at Recent Event:
  • Trump appeared unsteady, walking awkwardly and carrying his leg "in a heavy way" ([02:00]).
  • Ben notes, “You saw he's kind of carrying that leg in a heavy way and we've seen that before…”
• Pattern of Behavior:
  • Trump repeatedly claims to have passed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and touts this as evidence of his mental fitness, which Ben finds unusual and potentially indicative of concern for cognitive decline ([02:00–04:00]).
• Medical Denial:

  • Ben references the concept of “anosognosia”—the denial of one’s own impairment (as often seen in dementia)—and introduces a clip from a social worker underscoring how dementia patients often lack insight into their own condition ([03:58]).

    “Frequently, the person with dementia doesn't know they have dementia. Their memory is fine. There is nothing wrong with their thinking. Everything is fine.” — Social Worker ([03:58])

2. Breakdown of the Wall Street Journal Article on Trump’s Health

• Strange Explanations:
  • The brothers review Trump’s reported comments:
    • He bruises easily due to taking 325mg of aspirin daily, despite doctor’s advice.
    • Covers hand injuries with makeup, claiming he gets “whacked.”
    • Refuses to accept he fell asleep on camera, saying it was merely a “blink” that got caught ([04:41]).
  • Diet concerns: Known for consuming heavy fast food meals in a single sitting.
• Medical Testing Confusion:
  • Conflicting claims as to whether advanced imaging performed on Trump was an MRI or a CT scan.
    • Doctor and spokesperson originally said “MRI”; later, a note said “advanced abdominal imaging” that became a CT scan in subsequent reports.
    • Repeated confusion and lack of clarity raise transparency issues ([04:41–06:45]).

3. Dr. Vin Gupta’s Expert Analysis

• Medical Inconsistencies & Transparency Issues:

  “The fact that there's any confusion on the part of the president, much less his own physician, really flies in the face of what they keep talking about, which is radical transparency.” — Dr. Vin Gupta ([06:45])

  • Strongly criticizes the inability (or refusal) to clarify basic medical details like type of scan — “not hard in any way to confuse an MRI with a CT” ([06:45]).
• No Justification for Aspirin Dosage:

  “His doctors are right to tell him that he shouldn't be using aspirin, 325 milligrams every day. They're correct. It should be a baby aspirin every day.” — Dr. Gupta ([08:30])

  • Describes 325mg long-term use as rarely medically justified in adults, and confirms it can cause excessive bruising.
• Strange Explanations for Bandages/‘Getting Whacked’:
  • Gupta is skeptical, calling the explanations “a little speculative and a little unclear.”
• Diet and Lifestyle Red Flags:
  • points out Trump’s aversion to exercise and preference for unhealthy, high-sodium, high-fat meals despite having access to any food he wants ([10:45]).
  • “That’s 80% of your sodium intake, up to 80% of your saturated fat intake just in one sitting, one meal. That’s not healthy.”
• On the Use of Cognitive Testing as a ‘Flex’:

  “He keeps talking about that [MoCA], and I think in doing so, he's confusing the public because this is not a tool that the general public should be utilizing with that level of frequency. ... Passing this assessment proves nothing. ... If anything, it raises more questions.”
  — Dr. Gupta ([13:12])

4. The Broader Issue: How Trump ‘Presents’ Medically

• Ben draws on his legal background to stress the importance of not only “the records” but “how the patient presents.”

  “…He’s not speaking in complete sentences. ... That raises alarms just in and of itself, considering this is a guy who has access to the nuclear codes.”
  — Ben Meiselas ([11:51])

5. Urgent Help for Listeners: Affordable Care Act Fallout ([15:09–20:54])

• Topic Shift:
  • Ben raises concern about listeners newly unable to afford ACA plans due to lapsed subsidies.
• Dr. Gupta’s Practical Advice:
  1. Healthcare.gov Bronze Plans
     • Special enrollment period allows Americans dropped from ACA coverage to shop for lower-cost (but higher deductible) plans.
  2. Medicaid Check
     • Listeners who lose affordable coverage may now qualify for Medicaid; enrollment is open year-round.
  3. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
     • These clinics serve both uninsured and underinsured, adjusting fees based on ability to pay (“bedrocks of care”).
  4. Medication Cost Strategies
     • Ask physicians for generic drug options and 90-day refills (vs. 30-day).
     • Explore “cash pay” options like Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus, Amazon Pharmacy, or Walmart, which sometimes offer lower prices than insurance co-pays.

  “In many cases through Mark Cuban's Cost Plus, Amazon Pharmacy, Walmart, other entities like this can save you money than applying your insurance. So something to consider.”
  — Dr. Gupta ([19:54])

NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• On confusion over medical testing:

  “It's not hard in any way to confuse an MRI with a CT. These are very different modalities. ... The fact that there's any confusion ... flies in the face of [their] radical transparency.”
  – Dr. Vin Gupta ([06:52])

• On the repeated cognitive testing ‘flex’:

  “Passing this assessment [MoCA] proves nothing. It proves nothing. And if anything, it raises more questions.”
  – Dr. Vin Gupta ([14:52])

• On clinical presentation of cognitive decline:

  “…patients with dementia truly believe that there’s nothing wrong. …they certainly remember that they didn’t have breakfast, even though you were the one that gave them breakfast…”
  – Social Worker ([03:58])

• On practical help for ACA coverage loss:

  “Go and consider that [FQHCs]. And usually they tailor their fees to ability to pay. ... Now actually circumnavigating around your insurance and just paying cash ... can save you money.”
  – Dr. Vin Gupta ([18:55], [19:54])

TIMESTAMPS OF IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

• [02:00] – Ben runs through Trump’s physical appearance, cognitive testing claims, and introduces the issue of anosognosia.
• [03:58] – Clip from social worker on dementia denial.
• [04:41] – Review of Wall Street Journal article and odd details from Trump regarding bandages, diet, and sleep claims.
• [06:45] – Dr. Gupta begins his expert analysis on medical transparency and testing confusion.
• [13:12] – Deep dive into the misuse of the MoCA cognitive test by Trump and implications.
• [15:09] – Shift to practical advice for listeners losing ACA health coverage, Dr. Gupta’s actionable tips.
• [20:34] – Ben and Dr. Gupta wrap up, emphasizing the importance of community and practical support.

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

• Major, credible questions persist about Trump’s physical and cognitive health due to conflicting disclosures, unusual public behavior, and repeated cognitive testing.
• Dr. Gupta expresses concern as both a physician and public commentator about transparency failures and dangerously unhealthy medical routines.
• For listeners affected by ACA changes, concrete options are outlined to maintain coverage and contain medical costs.
• Underlying theme: the intersection of public health, leadership fitness, democracy, and direct support for people confronting real-world policy consequences.

This summary highlights key moments and provides references for anyone unable to listen. The conversation is frank, informative, and tailored both to supporters worried about democracy and anyone seeking sound medical guidance during tumultuous times.