“Trump is dead” went viral on X today and here’s what’s actually going on

On August 30, 2025, the phrase “Trump is dead” began trending on X (formerly Twitter), sparking a wave of speculation about the health of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently serving his second term as the 47th president. Despite the surge of online chatter, there is no official confirmation or credible evidence that Trump has died—the rumor remains unfounded.

The story gained momentum after Vice President JD Vance made a routine comment in an interview: “In the event that Trump died, I’m ready to go.” The remark, which was meant as a standard reference to presidential succession, was quickly misinterpreted by users online, who took it as a sign of something more.

Speculation grew further due to Trump’s lack of public appearances over the weekend. While his absence raised eyebrows, the White House has previously disclosed that the 79-year-old president is managing Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), a non-life-threatening circulatory condition. His physician has confirmed he remains in “excellent health.”

The frenzy only escalated once unverified posts began circulating, with claims that ambulances and law enforcement had been spotted heading toward the White House. A viral video from one user, labeling the situation as “breaking news” about Trump’s death, drew hundreds of thousands of views and added more fuel to the rumor mill.

This isn’t the first time similar hoaxes have surfaced. In 2023, Donald Trump Jr.’s hacked account falsely claimed his father had died, while recycled AI-generated “Simpsons predictions” about Trump’s death made the rounds again earlier this year.

The trend has been amplified by the clash between Trump critics and his supporters. Those hostile to the president were quick to share memes, celebratory posts, and references like “No One Mourns the Wicked” (from the musical Wicked), while loyalists pushed back, creating a feedback loop that boosted the visibility of the phrase through X’s algorithm-driven feeds.

As of now, Donald Trump is alive, and no reliable sources have reported otherwise. The White House has not issued any urgent statements, and leading outlets including Reuters, BBC, and CNN have not published anything confirming the rumor.