New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has been trending on social media. And no, it has got nothing to do with his global tariffs.
‘Trump is dead’ has become an unlikely trend on social media platform X, with more than 1.38 lakh posts on that phrase. It easily became a trend on the social media platform on Saturday.
Memes flooded the platform along with the post, “If Trump is dead I will give 100 dollars to anyone who like this tweet.”
The digital world looked to check whether there was any element of truth, and found none.
So how did it originate, and why did it go viral?
The most likely explanation is that it is linked to recent remarks made by Vice-President J D Vance.
Earlier this week, Vance was asked in an interview with USA Today whether he was prepared to step into the President’s role, if a “terrible tragedy” was to strike America.
Vance stressed that Trump was fit and full of energy, but unforeseen events cannot be ruled out.
“He’s the last person making phone calls at night, and he’s the first person who wakes up and the first person making phone calls in the morning,” Vance told USA Today.
“Yes, terrible tragedies happen. But I feel very confident the President of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people. And if, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days,” Vance added.
It’s also a fact that there have been some concerns over Trump’s health recently.
In July, the White House confirmed that the President has chronic venous insufficiency, a vein condition that causes leg swelling. Before the official announcement was made, photos of his visibly swollen legs had sparked speculation.
Age is a factor, as Trump is the oldest President to have assumed office (in January 2025, second term) at 79. Vance (41), on the other hand, is the third-youngest Vice-President in US history.
Despite Trump’s health issue, he has been very active and remains visible all the time. Almost every day, he writes posts on his social media platform Truth Social in the early hours of the morning.
“President Trump is a man of the people, and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history. His commitment is unwavering, and he proves that every single day,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a recent media briefing, downplaying speculation over his health issues.
