Eric Trump launched a fierce defense of his father over the Labor Day weekend after death rumors about President Donald Trump spread across social media following a four-day absence from public appearances. The president’s son condemned what he characterized as deliberate misinformation campaigns by political opponents during the speculation that emerged from August 29 through September 1.
The controversy began after Trump’s last major public engagement on August 26, when he conducted a three-hour Cabinet meeting. For the remainder of that week, the president maintained no official public schedule, with no events scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. The absence extended through the weekend, prompting widespread speculation on social media platforms.
By Saturday morning, August 30, approximately 158,000 posts on X included the phrase “TRUMP IS DEAD” while 42,000 stated “TRUMP DIED.” Hashtags including #whereistrump and #TRUMPDIED gained significant traction among users questioning the president’s whereabouts. The speculation intensified after recent comments from Vice President JD Vance about being prepared to assume presidential duties if a terrible tragedy occurred.
Eric Trump responded forcefully to the rumors through social media posts, describing the speculation as sick and twisted behavior from the radical left. He reposted his father’s Truth Social message, which declared the president had never felt better in his life. The younger Trump accused political opponents of deliberately spreading death rumors to damage his father, characterizing the behavior as representative of the left at its worst.
Critics quickly pointed to previous instances where Eric Trump and his family had questioned political opponents’ health. In 2020, Eric Trump repeatedly raised concerns about Joe Biden’s fitness during the presidential race, warning about cognitive decline. His father later amplified conspiracy theories suggesting Biden had been replaced by clones and robotic engineered entities.
The president’s health has drawn increased scrutiny in recent months. At age 79, Trump has been photographed with swollen ankles, bruised hands, and displaying an unsteady gait. In July, the White House acknowledged Trump suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a circulatory condition. White House physician Sean Barbarella attributed visible bruising to minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and aspirin use as part of a cardiovascular prevention regimen.
Despite the health speculation, Trump was photographed departing the White House for his Trump National Golf Course in Sterling, Virginia, on Monday, September 1. According to White House press pool reports, he spent approximately five and a half hours golfing before returning home. The president wore a white baseball cap, white golf shirt, and black windbreaker during the Labor Day outing.
Far-right activist Nick Fuentes compared the situation to what he claimed was a Biden cover-up, declaring on social media that something was obviously happening with Trump. Fuentes drew parallels between the current speculation and previous conspiracy theories about the former president’s predecessor.
Following his golf outing, Trump posted on Truth Social addressing various topics including India tariffs, COVID vaccines, and crime statistics. The post appeared designed to demonstrate his continued engagement with policy matters amid the swirling speculation about his health and whereabouts.
Eric Trump subsequently traveled to Hong Kong to serve as the main speaker at a prominent Bitcoin conference before continuing to Japan. His international travel schedule indicated the family’s intention to maintain normal business operations despite the social media controversy surrounding his father’s brief absence from public view.
The incident highlighted ongoing tensions between the Trump family and media coverage of the president’s health. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously addressed questions about Trump’s visible bruising, explaining it resulted from extensive daily handshaking activities.
The White House announced Tuesday that Trump would make an Oval Office statement at 2 p.m., with Leavitt indicating the president would deliver an exciting announcement related to the Department of Defense. The scheduled appearance aimed to address ongoing speculation while conducting official presidential business.
Presidents typically take summer vacations in August, coinciding with the annual Congressional recess. Trump has spent six weekends at his Bedminster, New Jersey, club since Memorial Day, plus a weekend at his Scottish golf property and made 17 visits to his Northern Virginia golf course during his second term.