Speculation over U.S. President Donald Trump’s health swept across social media on Friday after he was absent from public view for more than three days, fueling trending hashtags such as #TrumpIsDead, #WhereIsTrump, and #HesDead.
The President, who typically thrives on media attention and maintains a busy public schedule, was last seen during a marathon three-hour White House cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Since then, the official White House calendar has shown no public engagements for Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday—an unusual gap that extended into the weekend when Trump often travels to his resorts for golf.
Concerns about the 79-year-old leader’s health had already been circulating in recent weeks after television footage showed him with bruising on his hands and noticeable swelling in his legs and ankles. Online commentators, including some claiming to be medical professionals, speculated that these symptoms could point to cardiovascular problems.
In response, the White House sought to clarify the situation. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt, at Trump’s request, released a note from his physicians stating that the swelling was the result of chronic venous insufficiency, a common circulatory condition. The doctors emphasized that there was “no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease” and that the President “remains in excellent health.”
Leavitt also explained that the bruising on Trump’s hand was linked to “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” a medication often prescribed as part of preventive heart care.
Despite the official assurances, the rumors intensified, particularly after Vice President JD Vance remarked in an interview that he was prepared to assume the responsibilities of the Oval Office “if, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy.” Vance, however, also stressed that Trump was in “incredibly good health,” had “remarkable energy,” and that he fully expected the President to complete his term.
Social media users nevertheless continued to speculate, with some drawing on the long-running animated series The Simpsons, which has a history of eerily coincidental predictions. Jokes about the show’s creator, Matt Groening, and his recent quip about “President Vance” banning dancing added fuel to the fire.
To quell doubts, Trump himself weighed in late Friday night. Posting on his Truth Social platform, he criticized an appeals court decision against his tariff policy and vowed to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court—an intervention seen as proof that he remains actively engaged in governance.
