Sterling, VA, August 31, 2025 — President Donald Trump, 79, crushed rampant rumors about his death that had taken over X, appearing fit and cheerful during a golf outing at his Trump National Golf Club in Virginia on Saturday, August 30. The photos of Trump, joined by his grandchildren Kai Trump, 18, and Spencer Frederick Trump, 12, put an end to a wave of social media speculation that erupted due to his absence from public view since August 26, exposing the dangers of unchecked misinformation online.

The frenzy began on Friday, August 29, when Trump’s lack of public appearances—coupled with no scheduled White House events over the Labor Day weekend—sparked questions on X. Hashtags like “#TrumpIsDead” and “#WhereIsTrump” surged, with over 158,000 posts mentioning “TRUMP IS DEAD” and 42,000 referencing “TRUMP DIED,” according to X’s Grok data. The rumors were fueled by unverified videos of ambulances near the White House and comments from Vice President JD Vance about presidential succession, which some interpreted as hints of a health crisis. Earlier photos showing a bruise on Trump’s hand and reports of him struggling to walk during an August 24 golf game with former MLB star Roger Clemens added to the speculation, with some pointing to his age—he turned 79 on June 14, 2025, making him the oldest president at inauguration.

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones amplified the claims, alleging without proof that Trump was facing a “health emergency.” However, these theories were swiftly debunked when Trump was spotted leaving the White House at 8:45 a.m. ET on Saturday, wearing his iconic red MAGA hat, white polo, and black pants. He was photographed smiling alongside Kai Trump as they headed to the Virginia golf course. The White House press pool confirmed the outing, noting Trump’s relaxed demeanor. Daily Caller’s Reagan Reese, who interviewed Trump for an hour on Friday, posted on X, “People are losing it thinking Trump’s dead because he hasn’t been seen. I was with him yesterday. He’s fine.”

Despite clear evidence, a handful of X users clung to theories, with some claiming the golfer was a “body double” due to supposed differences in Trump’s appearance. These claims fizzled as outlets like Forbes, Newsweek, and Hindustan Times shared images of Trump on the course. The White House also addressed earlier health concerns, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt explaining the bruise on Trump’s hand as a result of “constant handshaking,” and physician Sean Barbarella attributing it to minor irritation and aspirin use for heart health.

The golf outing, Trump’s 56th this term per DidTrumpGolfToday.com, not only silenced the rumors but redirected focus to his active lifestyle. Supporters on X celebrated, with posts like “Trump golfing with Kai!” and “Good to see him out there!” Critics, meanwhile, pointed to the estimated $78.4 million cost of his golf trips to taxpayers, though for Trump’s base, the images were a powerful rebuttal to the naysayers.

The incident highlights how quickly misinformation can spread on platforms like X, where unverified claims can dominate. Political analyst Ian Bremmer noted on X, “The ‘Trump is dead’ rumors mirror past online panics about other leaders. It says more about distrust in information than Trump’s actual health.” Trump, unfazed, posted on Truth Social about a tariff ruling on Friday, signaling his focus on governance. The sight of him golfing with his grandchildren has put the rumors to bed, reaffirming his knack for stealing the spotlight.