President Donald Trump addressed circulating health concerns on Tuesday after spending several days away from public events, denying rumours about his well-being.
Asked directly by Fox News’ Peter Doocy, “How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead? Did you see that?” the 79-year-old president responded, “No.” Senators and administration officials gathered around him for the Space Command headquarters announcement shifted their weight and smiled.
Trump said he had not realised people were questioning whether he had died, but he had heard there were concerns about his health.
“I knew they were saying, like: ‘Is he OK? How is he feeling? What’s wrong?’” Trump said, calling the speculation “fake news” and adding that he “was very active over the weekend.”
Recently, Trump has been seen with bruising on the back of his right hand and swelling around his ankles. The White House said he was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that affects blood flow in the legs and is common in older adults. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt added that the bruising resulted from “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” which Trump takes to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Trump also noted that during his absence, he gave interviews and posted on Truth Social, his social media platform, writing some “long Truths” and some “pretty poignant Truths.” In a Sunday post, he said he had “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE.”
Trump has faced scrutiny over his transparency regarding health in the past. In 2015, he released a doctor’s letter describing him as having “extraordinary” physical strength and stamina and claiming he would be “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.” In 2020, details of his COVID-19 hospitalization, including a drop in blood oxygen levels, were initially withheld before being later revealed.
