Is The White House lying about Trump’s health?
Donald Trump, who is alive, was rumoured to have died on the weekend due to an unusual period of absence from social media and the public eye, following weeks of discussion over his health. The White House says he’s fine, but is that the truth?
Listen to this article
Read time: 4 mins
In brief…
- Unfounded rumours of Donald Trump’s death circulated after the attention-hungry president was absent from social media or public life for several days, following concerns over ill health due to a large purple bruise seen on his right hand.
- The News Agents say he will “hate” the speculation on his health, as he believes he must always show “toughness”.
- Jon Sopel believes the White House is “lying” about Trump’s good health, despite public updates on the president’s medical wellbeing being mandatory in US politics.
What’s the story?
"Trump is dead".
That was the message many people woke up to on Saturday morning, with social media abuzz with suggestions that the president had passed away.
Donald Trump, however, remains alive.
The 79-year-old was photographed on the weekend playing golf, after an unusual period of silence from the frequent tweeter, and an unusual lack of public appearances.
The rumours were fuelled by comments from vice president JD Vance, who had said a few days prior that he was ready to become president should a "terrible tragedy" occur – while also stressing that Trump was in good health.
Trump's health has been in question recently due to a large bruise seen on his right hand, initially explained by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt as damage caused by shaking too many hands.
“Trump hates questions that suggest that he is weak, ill, frail or vulnerable – that is Donald Trump through and through,” says Jon Sopel/
“He has to show toughness, and if the questions about him being physically incapable persist, he will absolutely hate that.”
Much was made, during Trump's election campaign, of Joe Biden's age and health, meaning this new speculation is especially difficult for MAGA and the Republican Party now.
"They were to jump down the Democrats throat at every single image of Biden," Emily Maitlis adds.
Why the false rumours seemed credible
There was more to the death rumours than Trump’s silence on social media, and a few throwaway comments from JD Vance.
His movements, or lack of, in recent weeks also set tongues wagging
“Most presidents, in the summer, go off to Cape Cod, or Florida, and he hasn't taken any noticeable holiday, or left Greater Washington for nearly three weeks,” says Emily.
“Even when he's been playing golf, it's in Virginia, which is 40 minutes away.”
“Is he reluctant to go too far? The Alaska trip was the last big trip he did.”
What’s wrong with President Trump?
In July 2025, it was revealed that Trump was suffering from chronic venous insufficiency, which prevents blood flowing from the legs back to the heart, and resulting in it pooling in the lower body. This can cause pain and itching, and in more serious cases ulcers and deep vein thrombosis.
It can also cause changes to the skin, which some believe could be responsible for the large bruise seen on his hands, which the president attempted to cover with make-up.
Why the US president’s health is a political matter
In the UK, we don't expect regular updates on Keir Starmer, but in the US, the president's physician is expected to frequently update the public on the medical state of their leader.
This role is currently held by Sean Barbabella.
“You couldn't have a position where a president was seriously ill and it was being kept from the American public,” says Jon.
“It happened under Biden. It happened under Trump’s first term. It happened under Obama.”
But, Jon adds, he believes the people in this role often lie.
“They were dishonest about Biden,” he says – referring to the decline of the former president during his final months in the White House during 2024.
Trump faced allegations that his physician was lying during his first presidency, when Ronny Jackson - who held the role at the time – claimed the president was not experiencing any covid symptoms, which the White House later confirmed was false.
“Ronny Jackson lied about Trump's health when he went to Walter Reed military hospital with covid. He was hospitalised,” says Jon.
“They lied about his health then, and they're lying now.”