Overview

• A brief stretch without public events and photos showing a bruised hand and swollen ankles fueled trending #trumpisdead and #whereistrump claims across social platforms.
• Trump rebutted the rumors with an Oval Office press conference and a Truth Social post saying he had "NEVER FELT BETTER," then joked about the episode at a White House tech dinner.
• The White House and physician Sean Barbabella attribute the visible swelling to chronic venous insufficiency described as common and non‑life‑threatening, with hand marks linked to frequent handshakes and aspirin use.
• Vice President J.D. Vance’s comment about readiness in case of a "terrible tragedy" added to speculation, and the episode reignited arguments over media consistency compared with prior coverage of Joe Biden’s health.
• Polling cited in coverage shows sizable skepticism, with many respondents saying Trump’s age hampers performance and a majority expressing little trust in the administration’s health disclosures.