A viral wave of rumors claiming that Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States, is dead has flooded social media.
These rumors gained traction due to a combination of factors: visible bruises and swelling on Trump’s hands and ankles, his recent diagnosis with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), and an unusual absence from public events over a weekend. The rumors were further fueled by a doctored video falsely attributed to The Simpsons predicting Trump’s death in August 2025. The Simpsons creator Matt Groening had joked in the past about the show continuing until “you-know-who” dies, which conspiracy theorists exploited.
Vice President J.D. Vance’s statement about being prepared to step in if a “terrible tragedy” occurred was also taken out of context to spark speculation. However, Trump’s physician confirmed that his health is excellent despite his CVI diagnosis, a common and non-life-threatening circulatory condition in older adults.