“In today’s climate, people tend to latch onto anything that seems to confirm their preconceived notions, which is obviously not ideal for obtaining accurate information,” stated Brendan Nyhan, a political science professor at Dartmouth University. “What we’ve witnessed highlights how everyone is susceptible to misinformation and online rumors.”
Speculation ramped up on Saturday morning when a photographer captured an image of Trump in a golf shirt as he left the White House with a grandchild. The photo was scrutinized online for clues about his health.
The following day, Trump shared a picture of himself golfing with former NFL coach Jon Gruden on Truth Social. Gruden had resigned from the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 after sending offensive emails, but Trump did not specify when the photo with Gruden was taken. This led to a new wave of questions.
A White House aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Trump golfed with Gruden on Sunday.
Trump directly addressed his health Sunday on Truth Social, saying, “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE.”
On Monday, rumors were reignited when images circulated on X and other platforms, showing someone throwing a trash bag out of a second-floor White House window, seemingly defying usual protocol. The videos garnered millions of views.
The events remain unclear. A White House aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, mentioned a contractor had discarded the bags as part of routine maintenance while Trump was not present.
When questioned about the images on Tuesday, Trump mentioned that the windows are sealed, which contradicts that explanation. He suggested the video was likely an “AI-generated” fake.
This wasn’t the first time the internet throbbed with commentary about Trump’s health. In September 2020, Trump posted on social media a denial that he had suffered “a series of mini-strokes” — without anyone having suggested that he had. And in October 2020, he was diagnosed with Covid-19 in a scare that gripped the government two months before the rollout of vaccines. He spent three days at Walter Reed.
Inside the White House on Tuesday, aides took note of the most recent buzz surrounding Trump’s health but didn’t seem to believe it amounted to much of anything.
“The made-up speculation online is crazy and baseless, and it’s clearly being pushed by Democrat activists and left-wing lunatics,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “President Trump is perfectly fine and has a tremendous amount of energy. He has been completely transparent about his health with the public, unlike his predecessor, who went weeks without speaking to the media and spent a third of his presidency sleeping on vacation.”
A Biden spokeswoman declined to comment.
The kerfuffle seemed to subside after Trump’s appearance Tuesday, but internet conspiracy theories often prove tough to quash. As evening approached, “#Trumpdead” was once again trending on X.
