Trump Health Conspiracy Theory on Social Media

Introduction

The speculation surrounding President Donald Trump’s health sparked a conspiracy theory that took over various social media platforms, leading to the creation of vast amounts of monetizable content.

The Rumor

Starting with some crumbs of truth, including questions about Trump’s health and an uncharacteristic absence from public view, conspiracy theories quickly spread that Trump was dead or gravely ill.

Viral Spread and Profiteering

Content creators with no real information began to post speculative items about possible injuries or surgeries. One self-proclaimed psychic even predicted Trump’s death on a specific date, using the opportunity for profit-making product promotions.

Photos and Responses

Photos showing Trump leaving the White House to visit one of his golf courses didn't dissuade the psychic. In between other promotional posts, she continued to insist that she was right and questioned the validity of the photos.

Social Media Response

Searching for Trump’s name on TikTok resulted in related searches for “is trump dead or no” and “trump health symptoms.” Some video makers appeared to be asking earnestly about the president’s well-being, while others seemed to be acting mischievously, sowing confusion for political or financial reasons.

Political Implications

Democratic politicians started to dabble in the health speculation, knowing that it would garner attention. Conservatives criticized these actions, citing the assassination attempts against Trump in 2024.

The State of Information and Trust

Political scientist Ian Bremmer pointed out that obsessive scrutiny of a leader’s health is a hallmark of authoritarian countries. He noted that the incident says more about the state of mistrust in information and institutions in the United States than it does about Trump’s actual health.

Former President Joe Biden's Health Scrutiny

In comparison, former President Joe Biden faced significant scrutiny from the media about his health but was far less accessible to the media and made fewer public appearances than Trump.