President Donald Trump engaged in a contentious back-and-forth with members of the press on Air Force One on Sunday. The verbal altercation took place as President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were en route back to the White House, following a public call from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the release of the President's MRI results.
The incident began during an impromptu press briefing when a journalist inquired about the President's recent MRI scan and Governor Walz's demand for transparency. President Trump likened his MRI results to his 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky, which was central to his first impeachment. "They were perfect like my phone call where I got impeached. Absolutely perfect. If you want to have it released, I'll release it," Trump affirmed.
Tensions escalated when CBS News correspondent Weija Jiang asked which part of Trump's body was examined by the MRI. The President's reply was personal and direct. "I have no idea. It was just an MRI. It wasn't the brain because I took a cognitive test and aced it. I got a perfect mark which you would be incapable of doing," he said, pointing at Jiang.
The exchange concluded with President Trump bidding farewell to the assembled media and making a pointed remark to another female reporter. Melania Trump then interceded, leading the President away by the hand. This moment was reported by the Daily Mail, adding a personal dimension to the otherwise political narrative.
The MRI has been a subject of contention ever since President Trump's social media remarks about Governor Walz, in which he used language that Walz and others found offensive. In response, Walz challenged the President's health and called for the MRI results to be disclosed.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously mentioned in late October that President Trump underwent advanced imaging at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as part of a routine physical exam. She stated that the President is in exceptional health but did not disclose further details about the scan. Despite earlier promises to provide more information, Leavitt later declined to elaborate.
During the Air Force One briefing, journalists also pressed President Trump on whether he stood by his remarks about Walz. The President defended his comments and continued to criticize Walz's immigration policies, particularly pertaining to Minnesota's Somali community.
Governor Walz has been vocal in his criticism of President Trump, questioning his physical fitness for office. In a tweet dated November 30, 2025, accompanying his appearance on "Meet the Press," Walz suggested that the President's condition is deteriorating and called for the MRI results to be made public.
