Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump dismissed a “horrible rumor” of his death that swept social media in late August, calling it “fake news” during remarks to journalists in the White House Rose Garden on Friday.
The viral speculation, fueled by his brief absence from public view, was amplified by posts on X and TikTok, including a trending hashtag #WhereIsTrump and a video garnering millions of views.
Trump’s comments, made before a dinner with congressional leaders, come amid heightened scrutiny of his health following a July diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), bruised hands and broader concerns about the age of U.S. political leaders, showed by his historic inauguration as the oldest president in January 2025.
Trump Addresses the Rumors
Speaking in the recently renovated White House Rose Garden on September 5, Trump addressed reporters, saying, “Actually the press has been very good lately except for one rumor that they spread.” He claimed the “horrible rumor that Trump is no longer with us” emerged after he missed one press conference following “about eight press conferences in a row, day after day after day.”
Trump added, “The fake news was at it again,” a phrase he frequently uses for mainstream media, asserting he countered the rumors with a “three-hour press conference” that day. The White House Rapid Response account on X shared a 44-second clip of his remarks, amplifying his rebuttal.
The rumors began on August 29, when social media posts falsely claimed Trump, 79, had died after not appearing publicly for two days. On X, the hashtag #WhereIsTrump trended among the top topics, with 158,000 posts containing “TRUMP IS DEAD.”
A TikTok video by user @w0odada, captioned “Streets are saying donald trump is dead??? And he hasnt been seen publicly since Tuesday???,” posted on August 29, received 600,000 likes and 3.5 million views, fueling speculation.
Trump revisited the issue on September 2, when Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked about the rumors during an Oval Office press conference. Trump responded, “Well, I didn’t see that. You know, I have heard—it’s sort of crazy, but last week, I did numerous news conferences, all successful. They went very well. Like this is going very well, and then I didn’t do any for two days, and they said there must be something wrong with him.”
He contrasted this with former President Joe Biden, saying, “Biden wouldn’t do them for months. You wouldn’t see him, and nobody ever said there was ever anything wrong with him, and we know he wasn’t in the greatest of shape.”
Health Concerns and Context
The rumors were sparked by Trump’s brief absence from August 27 to August 29, following a White House Cabinet meeting on August 26. Social media users pointed to images of bruising on his hand and swollen ankles, noted since early 2025, as evidence of health issues.
In July, the White House announced Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a common condition in older adults causing swelling and bruising, which his physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, described as “benign and common.” Barbabella maintained Trump “remains in excellent health,” per a July statement, but the diagnosis fueled speculation, especially given Trump’s status as the oldest president sworn in, at 78, in January 2025.
The age of political leaders has been a focal point since the 2024 election, when then-President Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy amid concerns over his health and cognitive state, a decision Trump criticized.
The deaths of multiple congressional leaders in 2025, including three senators and two House members, have heightened voter concerns about aging politicians, with 62% of Americans favoring age limits for elected officials, according to a Pew Research poll.
Social Media’s Role in the Rumor Mill
The death rumors originated on social media, not traditional media, despite Trump’s claims. On X, posts like @rawsalerts on August 30, countered the speculation, stating, “President Donald Trump is alive and doing just fine, likely sleeping comfortably with no cause for concern.” TikTok videos, including @w0odada’s, amplified the narrative, with some users citing Trump’s absence since August 26 and visible bruising. A Snopes report on August 30 debunked the claims, noting Trump was photographed golfing on August 30 at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia.
On X, reactions were polarized. Supporters like @MagaStrong2026 called the rumors “Democrat lies,” while critics, including @BlueWave2026, used #WhereIsTrump to question Trump’s health transparency. A YouGov poll showed 55% of voters, including 30% of Republicans, want Trump to release full medical records, reflecting public unease.
Why It Matters
Trump’s dismissal of the rumors as “fake news” aligns with his pattern of deflecting criticism, seen in recent controversies like his September 6 “Department of WAR” post targeting Chicago and his response to the weak August jobs report.
The Epstein files saga, with 30,000 pages released on September 2 but heavily redacted, has also drawn scrutiny, with Trump calling it a “Democrat HOAX” on September 5. These distractions coincide with unfulfilled 2024 campaign promises, including economic recovery and file transparency, as the 2026 midterms loom.
The White House’s opacity on Trump’s health, a departure from past presidents’ detailed disclosures, fuels speculation. Dr. Barbabella’s July report, citing Trump’s “active lifestyle” and golf victories, omitted CVI initially, raising questions about transparency. Legal battles, including a $10 billion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal, further complicate Trump’s narrative.
.@POTUS roasts the Fake News: “The rumors started spreading — this horrible rumor that Trump is no longer with us… The Fake News was at it again because I missed one day of press conferences! So today I gave them about a three hour press conference.” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/fts4Le5hsI
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 6, 2025
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What Next?
Despite Dr. Barbabella’s assurances, speculation about Trump’s health is likely to persist, driven by his age, visible symptoms and limited disclosures. The social media rumors, while debunked, highlight public fascination with his fitness, amplified by political divides.
As Congress debates issues like the Epstein files and election integrity, with Trump pushing to ban mail-in ballots, the health narrative could shape voter perceptions in 2026. Trump’s Rose Garden remarks, blending humor and deflection, show his strategy to counter criticism, but ongoing scrutiny may challenge his administration’s focus on policy priorities.
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