Over Labor Day weekend 2025, rumors falsely claimed that President Donald Trump died. The hashtag #TrumpDead on X (formerly Twitter) spread rapidly, sparking widespread confusion.
Trump was rumored to be deceased because of a sudden disappearance from the media for several days after being spotted at several conferences and meetings. As the media dissected his last appearances, health speculations added fuel to the fire.
Pictures of Trump resurfaced online, showing a large black and blue bruise on the back of his hand, with some images also showing the bruise covered with makeup. There were also shots of visibly swollen ankles. These points intensified the theories about his passing.
At a white house press conference held in the Oval Office on September 2nd, Trump was asked by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy, “How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead?”. President Trump said he wasn’t aware of these rumors and responded flatly, “Really? 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.” The president remarked.
After those press conferences, Trump was out of the spotlight, and concerns began to arise. “And then I didn’t do any for two days, and they said, ‘There must be something wrong with him’… no, I was very active over the weekend.” Debunking the presumptions that there was anything wrong with him or his health.
Trump points out that the rumors were a sham, “Well, it’s fake news, you know. That’s why the media has so little credibility.”
The white house has previously stated that Trump has a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). This is where the veins in the legs can’t correctly pump blood back to the heart, causing blood to pool in the legs and ankles. This illness causes problems in the kidneys and the heart. CVI has no cure but has certain treatments. Officials noted that this condition explains the swelling.
This condition can be treated with simple remedies such as wearing compression stockings or socks, exercise regularly, and lose weight if needed. As for his bruise, “This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” stated by Trump’s doctor, Sean Barbabella.
