Overview

• Speaking at the White House on September 2, the 79-year-old president called the speculation about his health "fake news" in his first on-camera remarks in about a week.
• Trump said he had been active with posts and interviews over the weekend, as AFP images showed him leaving the White House with his granddaughter en route to a golf outing.
• Press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said the visible bruising stems from frequent handshakes and aspirin taken as part of a standard cardiovascular regimen, following a July note citing chronic venous insufficiency.
• Vice-President J.D. Vance told USA Today he is prepared to assume the presidency in the event of a "terrible tragedy" while emphasizing that Trump is in excellent health, a statement that intensified public scrutiny.
• Tens of thousands of posts on X and a surge in related Google searches spread the false claim that "Trump is dead," with the rumor losing steam after his social-media denial and subsequent appearance.