Speculation spreading across social media provided insight into online conspiracy theories, liberal fantasies, and the attention economy.
Analysis
What do rumors of “Trump’s death” reveal about our current reality?
David Smith
In Washington
Speculation circulating on social media has shed light on internet conspiracy theories, the delusions of progressives, and the attention economy.
Saturday, September 6, 2025, 11:00 GMT
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The death of Joseph Stalin took days to be announced and remains fertile ground for conspiracy theories. Donald Trump’s death sparked countless tweets, TikToks, and memes long before it happened.
“How did you find out about your death this weekend?” Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked sarcastically. “Did you see it?”
“No,” Trump replied icily Tuesday, as senators and members of the administration gathered around him in the Oval Office, milling about and smiling.
The speculation circulating on social media this weekend revealed little about the health of Trump, who, at 79, is the oldest person ever to become president. It did, however, shed light on an internet culture steeped in conspiracy theories, progressive fantasies about his untimely demise, and an attention economy that created expectations that he would livestream his presidency 24/7.
“This intense anticipation of Donald Trump’s passing convinced intelligent, scrutinizing people that there was hope for his death and departure,” said Larry Jacobs, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.
“It’s a glimpse into the danger of misinformation and how it accelerates through memes and videos on the internet. It was quick and effective enough to convince thousands, if not millions, of people that Donald Trump was indeed dead, despite the lack of evidence beyond the fact that he hadn’t been seen for a day or two.”
Rumors have circulated about Trump’s years of lies and concealment of medical records, highlighting his penchant for McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants, even though he claims not to drink or smoke. He was recently seen with bruises on the back of his right hand, which he sometimes conceals with sloppy makeup, and swelling in his ankles.
The White House announced that Trump suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a condition characterized by the inability of the veins in his legs to properly carry blood to the heart, causing blood to pool in his legs. As for the bruises, White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt said they were caused by “frequent handshakes and aspirin,” which Trump regularly takes to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Trump’s second term has been marked by a near-daily barrage of speeches, media interactions, and vicious social media attacks. But with no events scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, he made the unusual decision to spend Labor Day weekend in Washington.
In related news, USA Today published an interview with J.D. Vance. When asked about his ability to assume the role of commander in chief, the vice president expressed confidence in Trump’s health but also indicated he was ready to intervene if anything happened to the president.
Forbes reported that “Trump,” “is Trump dead,” and “Trump dead” were among the most popular Google searches Saturday afternoon. “Where is Donald Trump?” topped the X search list.
During Labor Day weekend, reporters watched Trump leave the White House each day for his golf course in Virginia. But he didn’t stop to speak, and the images were blurry and distant. The president added insult to injury by posting a photo of himself playing golf with a week-old former American football coach.
Political consultant Fred Wellman responded on X: “This is insane. The President of the United States is blatantly lying about his activities, and the media’s lack of curiosity is astounding.”
Hilarious memes and satirical videos also abounded. Danny Zucker wrote on Bluesky: “A video taken earlier today shows Trump healthy and happy,” alongside a photo of the young Trump at a party with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The president himself posted his own social media posts, including claims that he had “never felt better in his life,” but conspiracy theorists quickly dismissed these messages as an elaborate cover-up by his aides.
The new week began with social media users claiming that the roads surrounding Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where Trump was treated for COVID-19 five years ago, had been closed. Radical online politicians went wild, speculating that Trump was home and near death.
To be or not to be? It turns out the president is still alive. On Tuesday, he held a ceremony in the Oval Office to announce the relocation of U.S. Space Command to Huntsville, Alabama, and took questions from reporters as usual.
The response provided no insight into Trump’s physical and mental state, a topic that constantly weighed on his predecessor, Joe Biden. But the heated rumors underscored how much Trump is missed when he’s not in the media. For this president, nothing is more shocking than silence.
“This guy is so omnipresent that when he’s gone for 36 or 48 hours, it leaves a huge media vacuum,” said Reed Galen, president of the Union, a pro-democracy coalition. For those who make their political living criticizing Donald Trump, you need the daily tweets, the daily outrage, the frenzy that accompanies a cabinet meeting or a tanning session in the Oval Office. Without it, you say, “Wait!”
“It’s like being addicted, like having to eat ice cream every day, and one day you can’t do it anymore, and you wait a minute, something’s missing. What’s going on? The medium is the message.” He’s created this monster that he has to feed, and when he can’t, people say, “Wait a minute, what’s going on?” because it’s not like him.
Others see a double standard in the way Biden and Trump’s age and health are scrutinized. “There’s speculation: What’s going on with Donald Trump’s hand? What’s on his head? Those are just details,” said Drexel Hurd, a Democratic strategist based in Los Angeles. It’s like Taylor Swift fans trying to find clues, but it’s useless until the person in question reveals their identity.
He added: “Donald Trump is Joe Biden’s age. How come he’s not treated the same way? I never know. It’s the same with all our older politicians; we don’t treat them the same way we treat Joe Biden.” This story started with Donald Trump, who spent most of his non-presidential years talking about Joe Biden’s age and laying the groundwork for it.
Like many other Trump dramas over the past decade, this one led to a lucrative opportunity. On Thursday, a pro-Trump political action committee, Never Give Up, released a fundraising email titled “Trump Memo,” which began: “I AM ALIVE! The fake news media and the radical left are trying to spread lies, claiming your favorite president, Donald Trump, is dead or sick. Do you believe it?”
“Shameful!” Let me tell you something: I’m more alive than ever! They say I wasn’t here for a few days, and all of a sudden, an obituary is written in my name? Meanwhile, corrupt Joe Biden could disappear for months, and the media wouldn’t comment. Too bad!
The email invited readers to “support Trump” by making a cash donation. But those who wish to write the headline “Death of a Salesman” will have to wait.
The response provided no insight into Trump’s physical and mental state, a topic that constantly weighed on his predecessor, Joe Biden. But the heated rumors underscored how much Trump is missed when he’s not in the media. For this president, nothing is more shocking than silence.
“This guy is so omnipresent that when he’s gone for 36 or 48 hours, it leaves a huge media vacuum,” said Reed Galen, president of the Union, a pro-democracy coalition. For those who make their political living criticizing Donald Trump, you need the daily tweets, the daily outrage, the frenzy that accompanies a cabinet meeting or a tanning session in the Oval Office. Without it, you say, “Wait!”
“It’s like being addicted, like having to eat ice cream every day, and one day you can’t do it anymore, and you wait a minute, something’s missing. What’s going on? The medium is the message.” He’s created this monster that he has to feed, and when he can’t, people say, “Wait a minute, what’s going on?” because it’s not like him.
Others see a double standard in the way Biden and Trump’s age and health are scrutinized. “There’s speculation: What’s going on with Donald Trump’s hand? What’s on his head? Those are just details,” said Drexel Hurd, a Democratic strategist based in Los Angeles. It’s like Taylor Swift fans trying to find clues, but it’s useless until the person in question reveals their identity.
He added: “Donald Trump is Joe Biden’s age. How come he’s not treated the same way? I never know. It’s the same with all our older politicians; we don’t treat them the same way we treat Joe Biden.” This story started with Donald Trump, who spent most of his non-presidential years talking about Joe Biden’s age and laying the groundwork for it.
Like many other Trump dramas over the past decade, this one led to a lucrative opportunity. On Thursday, a pro-Trump political action committee, Never Give Up, released a fundraising email titled “Trump Memo,” which began: “I AM ALIVE! The fake news media and the radical left are trying to spread lies, claiming your favorite president, Donald Trump, is dead or sick. Do you believe it?”
“Shameful!” Let me tell you something: I’m more alive than ever! They say I wasn’t here for a few days, and all of a sudden, an obituary is written in my name? Meanwhile, corrupt Joe Biden could disappear for months, and the media wouldn’t comment. Too bad!
The response provided no insight into Trump’s physical and mental state, a topic that constantly weighed on his predecessor, Joe Biden. But the heated rumors underscored how much Trump is missed when he’s not in the media. For this president, nothing is more shocking than silence.
“This guy is so omnipresent that when he’s gone for 36 or 48 hours, it leaves a huge media vacuum,” said Reed Galen, president of the Union, a pro-democracy coalition. For those who make their political living criticizing Donald Trump, you need the daily tweets, the daily outrage, the frenzy that accompanies a cabinet meeting or a tanning session in the Oval Office. Without it, you say, “Wait!”
“It’s like being addicted, like having to eat ice cream every day, and one day you can’t do it anymore, and you wait a minute, something’s missing. What’s going on? The medium is the message.” He’s created this monster that he has to feed, and when he can’t, people say, “Wait a minute, what’s going on?” because it’s not like him.
Others see a double standard in the way Biden and Trump’s age and health are scrutinized. “There’s speculation: What’s going on with Donald Trump’s hand? What’s on his head? Those are just details,” said Drexel Hurd, a Democratic strategist based in Los Angeles. It’s like Taylor Swift fans trying to find clues, but it’s useless until the person in question reveals their identity.
He added: “Donald Trump is Joe Biden’s age. How come he’s not treated the same way? I never know. It’s the same with all our older politicians; we don’t treat them the same way we treat Joe Biden.” This story started with Donald Trump, who spent most of his non-presidential years talking about Joe Biden’s age and laying the groundwork for it.
Like many other Trump dramas over the past decade, this one led to a lucrative opportunity. On Thursday, a pro-Trump political action committee, Never Give Up, released a fundraising email titled “Trump Memo,” which began: “I AM ALIVE! The fake news media and the radical left are trying to spread lies, claiming your favorite president, Donald Trump, is dead or sick. Do you believe it?”
“Shameful!” Let me tell you something: I’m more alive than ever! They say I wasn’t here for a few days, and all of a sudden, an obituary is written in my name? Meanwhile, corrupt Joe Biden could disappear for months, and the media wouldn’t comment. Too bad!
