Eric Trump lashed out at political opponents over the Labor Day weekend after death rumors about his father spread across social media following President Donald Trump’s four-day absence from public view. The president’s son condemned what he described as deliberate attempts to spread false information about his father’s health.
The speculation began circulating on social media Friday, August 29, 2025, after users noticed Trump had not been seen publicly for several days. Hashtags including #whereistrump and #TRUMPDIED began trending on X, with the platform’s analytics showing 158,000 posts including the phrase “Trump Is Dead” and 42,000 stating “Trump Died” as of Saturday morning.
According to Grok, X’s AI-powered chatbot, posts speculating about Trump’s possible death had acquired over 1.3 million user engagements by Saturday morning. The rumors gained additional momentum from a TikTok video by progressive commentator Harry Sisson discussing and dismissing the speculation, which garnered 1.9 million views and 227,000 likes.
Eric Trump responded with anger on X, writing: “The radical left is so sick and twisted.” He reposted his father’s Truth Social message declaring he had never felt better in his life, adding his own commentary condemning the speculation.
The death rumors were inadvertently fueled by comments from Vice President JD Vance during an interview with USA Today earlier in the week. Vance indicated he was prepared to assume the presidency if a terrible tragedy befell Trump, stating he felt very confident the president was in good shape and would serve out his term. However, he added that if a terrible tragedy occurred, he could not think of better preparation than his experience over the previous 200 days.
President Trump broke his silence Sunday night, August 31, 2025, posting on Truth Social that he never felt better in his life and declaring Washington D.C. a crime-free zone. The statement came after he was photographed departing the White House for Trump National Golf Course in Sterling, Virginia, on Monday, where he spent approximately five and a half hours golfing.
During his golf outing, Trump appeared to avoid media attention by keeping his head down when arriving at and leaving the Virginia course. He wore a white baseball cap, white golf shirt, and black windbreaker for the Labor Day outing.
The health speculation was sparked in part by recent photographs showing bruising on Trump’s hands, which became a subject of social media discussion. The White House previously addressed the bruising through press secretary Karoline Leavitt, explaining it resulted from Trump’s frequent handshaking throughout each day.
White House physician Sean Barbarella provided additional context in July, stating the bruising was consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and aspirin use as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen. The same month, Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency after appearing with swollen ankles, which Barbarella described as a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over 70.
Critics quickly pointed out the hypocrisy in Eric Trump’s outrage, noting his previous comments about President Joe Biden’s health during the 2020 presidential campaign. In 2020, Eric Trump repeatedly questioned Biden’s fitness for office, warning about cognitive decline during the presidential race. His father later amplified conspiracy theories suggesting Biden had been replaced by clones and robotic entities.
Following his social media response, Eric Trump departed for Hong Kong as the main speaker at one of Asia’s top Bitcoin conferences before flying to Japan for additional business commitments.
White supremacist Nick Fuentes, once a Trump ally, compared the situation to what he claimed was a Biden-style cover-up, stating on X that something was obviously happening with Trump that the White House was concealing.
Despite the physician’s assurances that Trump remains in excellent health, the president’s physical condition continues to draw scrutiny. At 79, Trump has been photographed with various physical ailments, including swollen ankles, hand bruising, and what observers describe as an unsteady gait.
The rumors subsided after Trump’s golf appearance and Truth Social statement, though engagement continued on social media platforms throughout the weekend. Presidential summer vacations during August typically coincide with the annual Congressional recess, making extended absences from public view relatively common.
