The phrase “TRUMP IS DEAD” trended on X over the weekend, fueled by wild rumors surrounding President Donald Trump’s health. By Saturday morning, hashtags like #whereistrump and #TRUMPDIED generated more than 1.3 million engagements.
The reason? Trump wasn’t seen in public for a couple of days. That’s it. That was the “smoking gun.”
The unfounded rumors were ultimately debunked when photos of Trump golfing in Virginia circulated on social media. While brief, the viral trend didn’t go unnoticed by prominent MAGA supporters like Rogan O’Handley, known as “DC Draino,” who blasted what he called a “comical double standard” in media coverage of Trump compared to former President Joe Biden.
“Joe Biden would go multiple days at a time without any public appearances and the media would say he’s ‘sharp’ and ‘top of his game.’ Meanwhile he was wearing diapers and napping. President Trump puts in more public work hours than any other POTUS in US history and media freaks out if he disappears for 24 hours. Comical double standard,” O’Handley posted on Truth Social.
President Trump later shared O’Handley’s post, adding, “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE. Also, DC IS A CRIME FREE ZONE! President DJT.”
O’Handley’s point is difficult to deny. The left was remarkably silent every time former President Biden went MIA during his single term in the White House. Dubbed the “basement presidency” by critics, Biden’s tenure was defined by limited public engagement. Americans could go weeks without getting more than a tightly controlled appearance or statement.
The left gave Biden a pass for four years. Yet Trump steps out of view for 72 hours, and social media practically writes his obituary.
Unlike its predecessor, the Trump administration has also taken a transparent approach to the president’s health, revealing in July that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
“The president underwent a comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies. Bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70,” the White House physician said in a memo.
The reality is that Trump’s visibility and transparency raise expectations. The public is accustomed to seeing him out front, holding rallies, engaging with the press, and maintaining a relentless public presence. As a result, even a brief pause sparks a rumor wildfire. Biden’s absences, on the other hand, barely registered because they were the norm.
The “TRUMP IS DEAD” trend said more about the president’s critics than about Trump himself. Despite his age, Trump’s stamina remains unmatched by his political rivals. The weekend’s rumor mill fizzled out, but the takeaway was clear: Trump dominates the national conversation whether he’s alive or “dead.”
