Speculation over US President Donald Trump’s health and succession has set social media ablaze, with the phrase “Trump Is Dead” dominating X trends and prompting questions about its origins.
The surge followed recent remarks by Vice President JD Vance, who in an interview on August 27 was pressed on whether he was prepared to assume the presidency should a “terrible tragedy” occur. While stressing Trump’s vigour, Vance acknowledged that no leader was immune to unforeseen events.
“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 maintained.
He added, “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.”
The phrasing, coupled with Trump’s age, 79, and recurring concerns about his health, appears to have helped ignite the online storm. In July, the White House confirmed that Trump suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that causes leg swelling. Speculation had already intensified after photographs of his swollen legs circulated online.
Also read: Vance says ready for Presidency if 'tragedy strikes'
Trump has also survived two assassination attempts during his most recent campaign, factors that have fed public anxiety about his safety.
Adding fuel to the fire was The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, who in July told fans at San Diego Comic-Con that the long-running series would continue indefinitely. “No, there's no end in sight. We're going to keep going. We're going to go until somebody dies,” Groening said. He added: “When you-know-who dies, The Simpsons predicts that there will be dancing in the streets. Except President (J.D.) Vance will ban dancing.”
The comments revived memories of the show’s long-standing reputation for uncanny predictions about Trump, including his 2000 election win and a re-election storyline in 2015.
This is not the first time false claims of Trump’s death have surfaced online. In September 2023, his son’s X account was hacked and a message declared Trump dead, before the president himself swiftly denied the hoax on Truth Social.
The latest episode underscores how anxieties about Trump’s health, Vance’s remarks on succession, and Groening’s offbeat humour have combined to spark one of the year’s strangest viral trends.
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