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| President Trump Tuesday w/reporter Peter Doocy |
President Donald Trump addressed viral social media rumors about his health during a press conference in the Oval Office, his first public appearance in a week.
The event, initially announced as a Department of Defense-related statement, centered on relocating the U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama. However, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy questioned Trump about widespread online speculation, sparked over the Labor Day weekend, that he had died or was gravely ill. Trump, 79, responded, “No. Really? I didn’t see that,” claiming he was unaware of the death rumors but had heard questions about his well-being, such as “Is he okay? How’s he feeling?”
He called the rumors “fake news” and blamed the media, despite the theories originating from social media users rather than major outlets.
He emphasized his activity over the weekend, stating, “I was very active over the weekend,” citing a lengthy interview with The Daily Caller, multiple Truth Social posts, and visits to his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, with his grandchildren Kai and Spencer.
PETER DOOCY: "How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead?"
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 2, 2025
TRUMP: "I didn't hear that one. That's pretty serious stuff... It's fake news... That's why the media has so little credibility." pic.twitter.com/uvbJM40hKV
The rumors began circulating on August 29, 2025, when “Trump Is Dead” and “Where Is Trump?” trended on X, amassing over 158,000 and 42,000 posts, respectively, by Saturday morning. The speculation was fueled by Trump’s lack of public appearances since a cabinet meeting on August 26, an empty public schedule over the Labor Day weekend, and visible bruising on his hands, which had been photographed as early as August 25.
A July 2025 White House statement revealed Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a common condition in people over 70 where veins struggle to return blood to the heart, causing swelling in his ankles and bruising attributed to frequent handshaking and aspirin use for cardiovascular prevention.
The rumors were further amplified by Vice President JD Vance’s comments in a USA Today interview on August 27, where he expressed readiness to assume the presidency in case of a “terrible tragedy,” while asserting Trump was in “incredibly good health.”
This statement, combined with a photo Trump posted on Truth Social of himself golfing with Jon Gruden—later suspected to be from August 23 rather than the weekend—intensified online speculation. Critics, including political consultant Fred Wellman and retired Navy intelligence officer Travis Akers, questioned the authenticity of Trump’s activities and the White House’s transparency, with some alleging the media showed insufficient curiosity.