"The rumors seem to have stemmed from an Aug. 28 USA Today interview with Vice President JD Vance. The interviewer asked Vance whether he was ready to take over the presidency if necessary, noting that Trump is the oldest president to have been sworn in. Vance said he was, but added several times that Trump is in good health. Social media users took the first part of Vance's answer to presume the president was either ill or dead."
"The story fizzled once Trump appeared live at the White House on Sept. 2 and even joked about the chatter when Fox News' Peter Doocy asked him about it. "I didn't see that. I have heard. It's sort of crazy, but last week I did numerous news conferences. All successful, they went very well. Like this is going very well," Trump said. "And then I didn't do any for two days and they said 'There must be something wrong with him.'""
False claims circulated that President Donald Trump was gravely ill or dead during the Labor Day weekend. The claims cited a supposedly suspended schedule, cryptic remarks by Vice President JD Vance, and old images that appeared to show decline. The rumors dissipated after Trump appeared live at the White House on Sept. 2 and dismissed the chatter. The rumors began after an Aug. 28 USA Today interview in which Vance said he would be ready to take over if necessary while also saying Trump was in good health. A brief absence from public events after an Aug. 26 cabinet meeting helped fuel speculation.
Read at Poynter
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