DONALD Trump has laughed off wild online rumours about his death, dismissing them as “fake news” during a primetime address after days of frenzied speculation over his health.
The president, 79, appeared on Tuesday to announce that U.S. Space Command headquarters will move from Colorado to Alabama.
He was then asked if he had seen the viral claims that he was no longer living.
“Really? I didn’t see that. That’s pretty serious!” Trump said, before insisting he had been busy behind the scenes.
“I did numerous interviews and had some pretty poignant posts on my social media site. I was very active over the weekend,” he added, noting that he also visited “some people” at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia.
The press conference had been called to announce that U.S. Space Command headquarters will move from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama — a reversal of Joe Biden’s 2023 decision to keep the base in Colorado.
Trump originally reestablished Space Command in 2018, saying its mission was to defend U.S. interests in space.
His light-hearted dismissal of the death hoax came after a week-long frenzy about his whereabouts.
He hadn’t held a public event since a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, fuelling speculation online and sending “Where is Donald Trump” trending on X.
Google searches for “Trump health” spiked on Saturday, while Vice President JD Vance was pressed in a USA Today interview on whether he was prepared to assume the presidency in the event of a “terrible tragedy.”
Vance stressed Trump is in “incredibly good health.”
On Sunday night, Trump himself hit back on Truth Social, blasting: “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE,” in a post mocking Joe Biden’s health.
He also re-emerged at his Virginia golf course on Saturday.
Over the weekend, the president fired off dozens of Truth Social posts — declaring Washington, D.C. a “crime free zone” after deploying the National Guard, demanding an end to mail-in voting, and even raging at a Rose Garden worker accused of damaging stonework.
Health speculation has followed Trump for months, with photos of swollen ankles and bruised hands going viral earlier this year.
But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later revealed Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency — a common condition in older people that affects blood flow in the legs.
Tests ruled out more serious complications, she said.
The fight over Space Command’s future has been simmering for years.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/15100411/donald-trump-announcement-health-rumours/