US President Donald Trump dismissed social media rumours that he had died as “fake news” during a press conference at the White House.
On September 2, when Fox News presenter Peter Doocy asked him about reports he had passed away he replied, “no”, according to US newspaper and digital media company The Hill, based in Washington.
Trump said he had not seen speculation swirling online that he was having health problems. But, while defending his activity over September 1 Labour Day, he said he had heard about “chatter” surrounding his health.
The President did not schedule any public appearances or hold any press conferences for several days in the week starting August 25, a noticeable absence from the cameras for the publicity-loving 79-year-old, according to AFP.
“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’,” Trump told The Hill.
“Biden wouldn’t do them for months, you wouldn’t see them, and nobody ever said there was ever anything wrong with him and he wasn’t in the greatest of shape,” he added.
Trump noted that he did a long interview with The Daily Caller and did “numerous shows” over the August 30 weekend.
“No, I was very active over the weekend. They also knew I went out to visit some people at the club that I own pretty nearby on the Potomac River. No, I’ve been very active, actually, over the weekend. I didn’t hear that one. That’s pretty serious stuff,” Trump said.
He also addressed the speculation about his health in a post on Truth Social on August 31. “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE,” read the post.
His right hand, though, appeared on September 2 to be heavily made up, as it has on a number of recent occasions, according to AFP.
The topic “#trumpdead” continued to trend on September 2 on X, owned by Trump’s former political ally Elon Musk.
Combined with his age – Trump is the oldest person ever to be elected US president – and recent images of his bruised hand and swollen ankles, the quiet from the Oval Office ignited widespread speculation that something was seriously wrong with him.
Many users even suggested that the 45th and 47th US president may have passed away, and that the White House was covering it up.
“Really? I didn’t see that,” the Republican said when a reporter on September 2 asked him jokingly: “How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead?
“It’s so fake. ‘Is he ok, how’s he feeling, what’s wrong?'”
In July the White House said that discolouration on Trump’s right hand was “tissue irritation from frequent handshaking” and the use of aspirin as part of a standard cardiovascular treatment.
It said his legs were swollen by chronic venous insufficiency, a common, benign vein condition.
Presidential physician Sean Barbabella said Trump “remains in excellent health” despite the condition, in a letter released by the White House at the time.
Liberal commentator Keith Olbermann said in a video tweeted on September 1: “Of course Trump’s not dead, on the other hand how could you be certain?” according to US business magazine Forbes.
“And how could his own White House have possibly made it look more like he was or is desperately ill or had surgery or is having surgery or what?” Olbermann said.
Trump frequently boasts of his good health and energy levels while the US administration has even posted an image depicting him as Superman.
The health of US presidents has always been closely watched, but with the White House seeing its two oldest ever occupants, Biden being the other, since 2017 the scrutiny is now heavier than it has previously been.
Trump has alleged that the opposition Democrats covered up the mental and physical decline of Biden, who was 82 when he left office in January.
Biden’s health was a key issue in the 2024 election and the then-president was forced to drop his campaign for a second term after a disastrous debate performance against Trump.
