DISCLAIMER: This article was first published in August 2025
Donald Trump finally appeared in public on Saturday morning after days of silence that set off a storm of rumors online. The president was photographed leaving the White House with his granddaughter Kai as he headed to a Virginia golf course.
He wore a white polo shirt, black pants, and a red MAGA hat. But what people noticed was his face. Many said he looked swollen and unhealthy.
The speculation began when Trump was not seen in public for several days. On Friday, hashtags such as #whereistrump, TRUMP IS DEAD, and TRUMP DIED trended across X. By early Saturday morning, more than 158,000 posts claimed “TRUMP IS DEAD” and 42,000 said “TRUMP DIED.”
X’s AI tool Grok reported that posts about Trump’s possible death had more than 1.3 million engagements.
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Reagan Reese, a White House reporter for the Daily Caller, pushed back against the rumors. “I wake up to see people freaking out that Trump’s sick or dead or something because he hasn’t been seen in a few days,” she wrote. “I was with the president yesterday afternoon. I interviewed him for an hour.”
Others kept questioning his absence. Ben Meiselas from MeidasTouch posted: “Where did Trump go?! Where is he? What is happening? He has not made a public appearance in two days.”
Late Friday, Trump posted on Truth Social about tariffs, insisting: “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT! … It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong.”
By Saturday morning, Trump’s motorcade left the White House at 8:45 a.m. ET. Cameras caught him walking to the vehicle, but the fresh photos only raised more doubts.
On X, people questioned his appearance.
On a serious note, he looks like shit. Why is he so swollen? https://t.co/9wDli3icYK
— Angry Staffer (@Angry_Staffer) August 30, 2025
That’s not Trump. pic.twitter.com/s8Ux7t1iaB
— Abdi (@BLACKTIVIST5) August 30, 2025
The swelling is so bad now
Its happening soon yall https://t.co/4t7D8mci6t— As Told By Artsy Ginger🎨 (@bylvchristiana) August 30, 2025
His corpse was spotted, he looks like shit. Keep the energy coming, people.
— Danny (@danzu72) August 30, 2025
Organ and medication issues
— Gilly 🐢✨ (@HgLoew) August 30, 2025
Why is he more bloated than usual?
— Lynnez 🌊♥️🇺🇸 Rib Gone Rogue (@Lynnenallo) August 30, 2025
What’s up with his face? It looks more bloated than usual.
— Velma Tucker (@vetu313) August 30, 2025
He looks awful. Bloated?
— KathleenFrances ☘️ (@Kathlee71013772) August 30, 2025
That’s not trump lol
— Rob (sketch) (@basqui_not_) August 30, 2025
He still looks like shit, keep manifesting
— Ben (from back then) (@bentejadas) August 30, 2025
CHF, Steroids, kidney failure…
— Dixie Darlin (@Codnugget777) August 30, 2025
Disgusted
— Certified Hoodie Thief 🏁 (@KryssyLaReina) August 30, 2025
Well he always looks like shit so that’s not exactly breaking news.
— Crazy Fenak (@CrazyFenaker) August 30, 2025
He’s swollen because he’s full of hate and maggots.
— Russell Gooch (@Hit_Him_Not_Me) August 30, 2025
Retaining water~ kidney issues
— Carlos V (@webcav1) August 30, 2025
Problems with his mitochondria. You can see it in his face.
— Robert the Spruce 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 (@Bufshuf) August 30, 2025
Looks like steroid bloat. Possible autoimmune treatments or lots of liquid IVs
— Hey Jay (@JJeffrey100) August 30, 2025
What’s up with his face? It looks more bloated than usual.
— Velma Tucker (@vetu313) August 30, 2025
Featured image via X screengrab
