‘Trump is dead’: False claims flood social media amid confusion

WEB DESK: False claims about Donald Trump’s death have been circulating widely on social media, with official sources confirming that the US president remains alive and in good health.

The rumours began gaining traction on the social media platform X on Saturday. Despite the volume of speculation, there is no evidence to support the claim that Trump died.

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Government officials and his personal physician have both dismissed the reports.

The misinformation appears to have been sparked by comments made by Vice President JD Vance during a recent interview. Vance spoke about the constitutional procedures for presidential succession and said he would be prepared to take over if needed. The standard remark was misunderstood by many users as a sign of serious health issues.

Trump’s relative absence from public events in recent days contributed to the speculation. A brief technical failure disrupted the White House’s official live stream, which some observers wrongly linked to an emergency situation.

Trump has been open about managing a circulatory condition called chronic venous insufficiency. The White House has previously assured that this condition is stable and does not pose a threat to his ability to carry out his duties. His medical team recently stated that he remains in good health.

Multiple unverified posts shared videos and images claiming emergency vehicles were seen near the White House. These claims were not independently verified and played a role in spreading the false rumours.

This is not the first instance of death hoaxes involving Trump or other high-profile figures. Similar stories have emerged in the past, sometimes linked to hacked social media accounts or artificially generated content. Independent fact-checkers have consistently debunked these claims.

The hashtag #TrumpIsDead trended on social media and featured sharp divisions.

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Major news organisations including the BBC, Reuters and CNN have not reported any health crises concerning the US president. The White House has made no emergency announcements.