Overview
- After several days off the public schedule, President Trump told reporters the online claims were "fake" and posted on Truth Social that he had never felt better.
- An official note from physician Sean Barbabella said tests confirmed chronic venous insufficiency and that visible hand bruising stems from frequent handshakes and routine aspirin use.
- Speculation swelled over the holiday weekend as #TrumpIsDead and similar hashtags trended following a sparse calendar and lack of public events.
- Users cited a spike in Pentagon-area pizza orders and flags at half-staff, which the White House said reflected a proclamation honoring victims of the Minneapolis mass shooting.
- Media analysts described the episode as a case study in how fragmented online ecosystems amplify misinformation and erode confidence in institutions.