Images of President Donald Trump since his last major public appearance show that recent online rumors about his health are false.
The Trump administration said the president will make an Oval Office statement at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
When asked for comment, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Newsweek that Trump “will be making an exciting announcement related to the Department of Defense.”
There was no response to questions about the health rumors that circulated after several days of speculation.
After completing more than two dozen public events in August, including a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, August 26, Trump’s schedule suddenly became quiet.
This led to memes and social media posts falsely claiming he had died or was seriously ill. On Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social that he “never felt better.”
Newsweek gathered images showing Trump’s appearances over the last few days.
Why It Matters
Trump is 79 and will be the oldest U.S. president in history by the end of his term. This makes even a short break from public duties draw attention, especially since the White House says he is the “most accessible” president in history.
Questions about a president’s health are not new. Trump often criticized his predecessor Joe Biden’s fitness for office, which at times fueled speculation about Biden and affected his political decisions.
What To Know
Before Tuesday, Trump’s most recent major event was a three-hour Cabinet meeting on August 26, his 26th of the month.
But his public schedule was empty for the next three weekdays and the weekend, with no official events or appearances. Journalist Laura Rozen shared a screenshot of his weekend schedule showing no public appointments for Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.
This led some conspiracy theorists to post thousands of messages on X using hashtags like #whereistrump and #TRUMPDIED. By Saturday morning, there were 158,000 X posts saying “TRUMP IS DEAD” and 42,000 saying “TRUMP DIED.”
A TikTok video by commentator Harry Sisson, which explained and dismissed the rumor, got nearly two million views and 250,000 likes.
On Saturday, the rumors were proven wrong when Trump was seen heading to play golf. He wore a red “Make America Great Again” hat and was accompanied by his grandchildren, Kai Trump and Spencer Trump.
Trump returned to his golf club on Sunday and posted an undated photo of himself in a golf cart with former football coach and media personality Jon Gruden.
Vice President JD Vance’s comments to USA Today that he was ready to assume the presidency if a “terrible tragedy” happened added to the speculation.
Trump later addressed the rumors on Truth Social, saying he had “never felt better in my whole life” and discussing topics like India tariffs, COVID vaccines, and crime.
On Monday, he returned to his Virginia golf club for Labor Day. Reporter Reagan Reese shared a photo of him on X after conducting an hour-long interview.
Trump has been seen wearing concealer on his hands, which raised concern because of swollen ankles—likely caused by a circulation issue diagnosed in July. Images of a bruised hand last week also caused worry, though his physician, Sean Barbabella, said it was from “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin.”
During his first term, Trump often spent August at his Bedminster, New Jersey, club. In his second term, he has spent six weekends in Bedminster since Memorial Day, plus a weekend in Scotland, and made 17 visits to his Northern Virginia golf course.
What People Are Saying
Trump on Truth Social on Sunday: “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE.”
Daily Caller White House correspondent Reagan Reese on X: “Here’s me and the president before our interview yesterday. He’s very much alive!”
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt in a statement to Newsweek: “The President will be making an exciting announcement related to the Department of Defense.”
What Happens Next
Many are waiting to see if Trump’s 2 p.m. Tuesday announcement will address the health rumors. Given his age, questions about his health are likely to continue during his presidency, similar to what happened with Joe Biden.
