Eric Trump launched a fierce defense of his father over Labor Day weekend after death rumors about President Donald Trump spread across social media following the president’s four-day absence from public appearances.
The speculation began circulating on Friday, August 29, 2025, when hashtags including “#whereistrump” and “#TRUMPDIED” began trending on X. According to platform analytics, 158,000 posts included the phrase “TRUMP IS DEAD” and 42,000 stated “TRUMP DIED” as of Saturday morning, with posts about the president’s possible demise acquiring over 1.3 million user engagements.
Eric Trump, the president’s third child with his late first wife Ivana, responded angrily to the rumors on social media Sunday. Eric described the speculation as “sick and twisted,” blaming political opponents for deliberately spreading the rumors. He reposted his father’s Truth Social message declaring he had never felt better in his life.
The rumors intensified following comments from Vice President JD Vance in an interview with USA Today published on August 28. Vance indicated he was prepared to step in if a terrible tragedy befell the president, stating he felt very confident Trump was in good shape and would serve out his term. However, Vance added that if something terrible happened, he could not think of better on-the-job training than what he had received over the previous 200 days.
President Trump broke his silence Sunday night on Truth Social, posting that he had never felt better in his life and declaring Washington, D.C. a crime-free zone. The president was spotted heading to his golf course in Sterling, Virginia, on Saturday, effectively ending the speculation about his whereabouts. The president was accompanied by his grandchildren Kai Trump, 18, and Spencer Trump, 12, both children of Donald Trump Jr.
On Monday, September 1, Trump spent approximately five and a half hours golfing at Trump National Golf Course in Sterling, Virginia, before returning to the White House. He wore a white baseball cap, white golf shirt, and black windbreaker for the outing, appearing to keep his head down when departing and arriving at the course.
The health speculation was fueled by recent photographs showing bruising on the president’s hands, which became a subject of social media discussion. The White House previously attributed the bruising to aspirin use and frequent handshaking, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt explaining that Trump shakes hands all day, every day.
In July, the White House acknowledged that the 79-year-old president had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a circulatory condition that hinders blood flow back to the heart. White House physician Sean Barbabella described the condition as benign and common, particularly in individuals over age 70. The physician noted that despite the diagnosis, Trump remained in excellent health.
The president was also previously seen with swollen ankles, which doctors attributed to the same circulatory condition. Barbabella explained that the hand bruising was consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and aspirin use, which Trump takes as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.
Critics quickly pointed to the irony of Eric Trump’s outrage, noting his previous comments about former President Joe Biden’s health during the 2020 campaign. In that election cycle, Eric Trump repeatedly questioned Biden’s fitness and warned about cognitive decline. His father later amplified conspiracy theories suggesting Biden had been replaced by clones and robotic engineered entities.
Following his social media response, Eric Trump departed for Hong Kong to serve as the main speaker at one of Asia’s top Bitcoin conferences before traveling to Japan. The 41-year-old has maintained a lower public profile compared to his older brother Donald Trump Jr., focusing primarily on running the family business.
White supremacist Nick Fuentes, once a Trump ally, suggested there was a Biden-style cover-up around the president’s health, comparing the situation to what he claimed was concealment during the previous administration. However, conspiracy theory expert Mike Rothschild indicated that rumors about Trump being secretly hospitalized at Walter Reed had no credible evidence supporting them.
The episode highlighted the intense scrutiny surrounding Trump’s health as he serves his second term at age 79. Presidents traditionally take summer vacations in August, coinciding with the annual Congressional recess, though Trump’s extended absence from public view generated unusual levels of speculation on social media platforms.
