Trump Denies Health Rumors Following Surge in Online Speculation
WASHINGTON – Former president Donald Trump addressed widespread online rumors regarding his health Sunday night, stating on his Truth Social platform, “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE. Also, DC IS A CRIME FREE ZONE! President DJT.” The statement came after a weekend dominated by speculation fueled by social media posts claiming Trump had died or was hospitalized.
The rumors gained important traction on X, formerly Twitter, with over 1.3 million user engagements as of Saturday morning. Platform analytics showed 158,000 posts including the phrase “TRUMP IS DEAD” and 42,000 stating “TRUMP DIED” had been made by 7:48 a.m. ET on Saturday. Engagement decreased after Trump was observed heading to his golf course in Virginia on Saturday.
The surge in speculation coincided with renewed scrutiny of recent photos showing bruising on Trump’s hand. Questions about the former president’s health were also prompted by a July proclamation from the White House that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), described by his physician as “benign and common.”
Vice President JD Vance recently addressed the possibility of assuming the presidency in the event of a tragedy, stating in an interview with USA Today, “I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days.” He also expressed confidence in Trump’s health, saying, “I am very confident the President of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American peopel.”
Conspiracy theory expert Mike Rothschild noted on X that the rumors lacked credible evidence, attributing thier spread to individuals seeking online attention. Political scientist Ian Bremmer also commented on X, suggesting the frequency of such rumors about world leaders reflects a broader “state of mistrust in data and institutions.”
As of Monday, Trump has no public events scheduled.
