Trump brushes off #TrumpIsDead trend: ‘Never felt better,’ but bruises and swelling fuel chatter

While the US President laughed off claims of his “deteriorating health,” a White House letter quietly acknowledged that his recurring bruises stem from “frequent handshaking” and daily aspirin use, a detail that kept the speculation mill churning.

US President Donald Trump.

Credit: Reuters Photo

US President Donald Trump on Monday brushed aside a wave of online speculation about his health, declaring on Truth Social that he has “never felt better” in his life.

The response came after conservative commentator DC Draino accused the media of applying “comical double standards” between Trump and Joe Biden.

Draino argued that while Biden could go days without public appearances and still be described as “sharp,” Trump’s absence for even 24 hours sparked alarm. “President Trump puts in more public work hours than any other POTUS in US history, and the media freaks out if he disappears for 24 hours,” Draino wrote.

Trump responded in all caps: “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE. Also, DC IS A CRIME-FREE ZONE! President DJT.”

Venkatesh R

The remarks followed a surge of rumours online under the hashtag #TrumpIsDead, which trended on X after the White House released a blank schedule last week. Trump attempted to silence the chatter by posting a photo of himself playing golf, though some social media users claimed the picture was doctored.

Vice President JD Vance also addressed the issue in an interview with USA Today, saying he was confident Trump, 79, remained energetic and engaged. “He’s the last person making phone calls at night, and the first in the morning,” Vance said, though he acknowledged unforeseen events can never be ruled out. “If, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days.”

Speculation was further fueled by earlier concerns over Trump’s health, including visible bruises on his hand and swelling in his leg. The White House physician attributed the marks to minor irritation from frequent handshakes and aspirin use, stressing there was no cause for alarm.

Adding a bizarre twist, The Simpsons creator Matt Groening recently joked that the show would only end “when you-know-who dies,” predicting “dancing in the streets” — though he quipped that President Vance would ban dancing.

For now, Trump insists he is fit and ready, dismissing the viral rumours with characteristic bravado.