In the latest trend sweeping social media, a bunch of TikTokers have convinced themselves that Donald Trump had died, presenting a few pieces of ‘evidence’ to support the wild theory.
The conspiracy took off like wildfire throughout much of last week, and kicked off when users noted the US president’s notable absence from public duties in the lead up to Labor Day weekend.
That absence took on a more dire meaning in theorists’ minds when viral images of Trump’s bruised hands and swollen ankles prompted concerns over his supposedly declining health.
ICYMI, pics of Trump’s bruised hands, concealed with a patch of makeup, started doing the rounds on social media last week after his two separate meetings with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House.
Why do people think Donald Trump has died?
Naturally, this led to questions over Trump’s physical health, and his withdrawal from public duties on the usually active public holiday did little to quell conspiracies he had secretly passed away.
Then came a comment from Vice President JD Vance that put the nail in the proverbial coffin, when he told a reporter he would be ready to assume Trump’s role in the event of a “terrible tragedy”.
All these supposed clues saw terms like #trumpdead and #whereistrump soar to the top of trending lists on X, with older conspiracies about his death — including supposed predictions made by The Simpsons — also resurfacing as a result.
“NONE MOURNS THE WICKED!!! TRUMP IS DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” one presumably Trump critic wrote on X, while another said they were “waiting for Pop Base to tweet ‘Donald Trump dead at 79’”.
So are these conspiracies right? Is Trump dead? Newsflash: if he was, this would be a totally different story, so it goes without saying that the theories were proven wrong.
In fact, Trump was actually spotted golfing in Virginia with his grandchildren over the weekend, so his love of the sporting pastime is clearly just as alive as he is.
It’s not the first time the Trump administration has been subject to questions over his health, particularly since he made history as the oldest president to be inaugurated back in January.
When asked about the bruising earlier this year, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was the result of too many handshakes.
“President Trump has bruises on his hand because he’s constantly working and shaking hands all day, every day,” Leavitt said.
Whether that will be enough to satisfy people’s theories remains to be seen, but we can at least close the chapter on that conspiracy… for now.
Lead images: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images and X
The post Social Media Theorists Are Convinced Donald Trump Is Dead After *Those* Viral Hand Pics appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
