People are fueling rumors that Donald Trump has died – but why?
U.S. citizens and others around the world have been asking where the president is, as the hashtag #whereistrump trended on X (formerly Twitter) over the weekend.
And with the American flag flying at half-mast in the White House just last week (August 30), people are beginning to wonder whether Trump is actually still alive.
The speculation began after several White House reporters noted the president had not been seen in public since last Tuesday, and had no events scheduled all weekend.
But Vice President JD Vance sent rumors spiralling further, as the 41-year-old claimed that he was ready to step in for Trump in the event of a ‘terrible tragedy.’
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones further added fuel to the fire, after asking people to pray for the president.
He claimed, without evidence, that Trump was in a ‘health crisis,’ and looked like he was about to ‘collapse.’
The White House stated that they would be ‘live shortly’ on the morning that they flew the U.S. flag at half-mast.
However, the reason for the half-mast flag was an announcement made by Trump himself.
Flying a flag at half-mast typically means lowering it to about the middle of the flagpole to express grief, respect, or mourning.
It’s typically done following a death or major tragedy.
President Trump had ordered that the American flag be flown at half-staff across all federal buildings and installations until sunset on August 31.
But he made the order as a mark of respect after the mass shooting at an Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, just last week.
Two children died in the shooting, and 17 others were left injured, as the perpetrator, 23-year-old Robin Westman, later ‘took his own life’ at the scene.
But rumors of the president’s death have now been quashed, after journalist Barak Ravid revealed a U.S. official had confirmed Trump is in good health.
The White House confirmed that the president is ‘fine.’
Taking to X shortly before snaps of the president with his granddaughter emerged, Ravid said: “Trump is okay. Will play Golf this morning.”
White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, revealed in July that the president was suffering from ‘chronic venous insufficiency,’ which was causing ‘mild swelling’ in his lower legs.
It has since been described as a ‘benign and common’ condition among elderly people, and that there was no evidence of any serious arterial disease.
But Trump himself as since spoken out about the rumors of his death, as he took to his social media platform, TruthSocial.
“NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE,” Trump wrote in an all-caps response.
Vice President JD Vance last week said he’s ‘very confident’ that Trump will serve his full term as president.
“The president is in incredibly good health,” he told USA Today. “He’s got incredible energy.”
