Published: 12:46pm, 3 Sep 2025Updated: 12:50pm, 3 Sep 2025
From manipulated images to out-of-context photos, false claims that Donald Trump is seriously ill – or even dead – have swirled online, with the misinformation persisting even after the US president publicly rejected it on Tuesday.
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At a White House press conference, Trump dismissed social media rumours about his health as “fake news”, following his noticeable absence from public appearances and press events last week.
Recently, Trump has been seen with bruising on the back of his right hand, sometimes poorly concealed with make-up, and swelling around his ankles.
The White House has said Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, which means veins in the legs cannot properly carry blood back to the heart, causing it to pool in the lower legs. It is a fairly common condition for older adults.
Trump, who turned 79 in June, is the oldest person to be inaugurated as US president.
As far as the bruising, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was from “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin”, which Trump takes regularly to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.