Topline
President Donald Trump will make his first official public appearance in a week Tuesday amid rumors he was suffering from a mysterious health condition—or was even possibly dead—after months of being spotted with large bruises on his hands.
President Donald Trump returns to the White House on September 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Trump’s official Tuesday press schedule lists a 2 p.m. Oval Office announcement, raising speculation he could explain his days-long absence by making a health-related announcement.
But the Associated Press, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the plans, reported Trump will announce the U.S. Space Command will be located in Alabama, not Colorado, where the Biden administration temporarily relocated it, and the Pentagon website also has a livestream set up for a “U.S. Space Command HQ Announcement.”
Trump was last photographed Monday outside the White House wearing golf clothing as he walked to his motorcade, and he was pictured Saturday departing the White House with his granddaughter Kai Trump en route to Trump National Golf Club in nearby northern Virginia.
Prior to the Saturday sighting, Trump had not been seen since his Cabinet meeting last Tuesday, Aug. 26—sparking frenzied social media rumors speculating whether he had died, with search inquiries for “is Trump dead” and “Trump dead” among the top Google searches Saturday.
Trump posted consistently on Truth Social over the weekend, writing Sunday “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE” and doubling down on his feud with Illinois Democrats over his threats to send federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Chicago to tamp down on crime.
The 79-year-old president’s public absence exacerbated health concerns stemming from mysterious bruising on his hands that he has attempted to cover with thick makeup, markings the White House has attributed to shaking hands and an aspirin regimen for heart disease prevention.
Contra
“I get that the vibe is very weird around Trump right now. But these rumors that he’s secretly at Walter Reed have no credible evidence to support them, and are being spread by small-time influencers looking for clicks,” Mike Rothschild, who studies conspiracy theories, tweeted Sunday, though Rothschild also added “it’s possible Trump’s health took a turn and the WH is buying time with tweets and pictures of Trump on the golf course.”
Chief Critic
“Of course Trump’s not dead, on the other hand how could you be certain? And how could his own White House have possibly made it look more like he was or is desperately ill or had surgery or is having surgery or what?” liberal commentator Keith Olbermann said in a video tweeted Monday.
Tangent
Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, the White House announced in July after he was repeatedly photographed with swollen ankles, a symptom of the condition. CVI, which is common in people over the age of 70, is caused by “incompetent venous valves,” according to the National Institutes of Health. The White House said testing showed no signs of “deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease” or heart failure in Trump.
Key Background
Trump had no events on his public schedule over the weekend—which is not unusual—but he gave an hour-long interview with the Daily Caller conservative news site Friday. Fueling concerns about Trump’s health, Vice President JD Vance in an interview with USA Today on Thursday also addressed the possibility of Trump dying, telling the paper he was ready to assume the presidency in the event of a “terrible tragedy,” though he insisted Trump is in “good shape” and “incredibly good health.” For months, Trump has been seen with bruising covering the majority of the back of his right hand and was seen last weekend with a smaller bruise on his left hand. The bruising on his right hand—which Trump has repeatedly attempted to conceal with thick makeup—was last visible during two appearances on Monday, Aug. 25. The White House, and Trump himself, have blamed the bruising on persistent handshaking. White House physician Sean Barbabella also said in a letter in July the bruising “is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.”
Further Reading
‘Is Trump Dead?’ Rumors Debunked As Trump Seen Leaving For Golf (Forbes)
Trump Seen With Bruised Right Hand Again—Here’s Everything We Know About The Condition (Forbes)
Trump Diagnosed With Common Chronic Vein Disease—White House Insists He Is In ‘Excellent Health’ (Forbes)
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