Trump dead rumours: When White House offered head-scratching excuse for President's new bruise amid health concerns

US President Donald Trump is trending all over social media on Saturday and this is not due to his usual political moves, announcement of tariffs or off-the-cuff remarks. Trump's health has been spotlight for quite sometime now and things escalated today when term "Trump Is Dead" swept the social media platform, sparking frenzy among netizens prompting them to scroll frantically for a clarification.

Was it sparked by concerns over his health, or is it tied to recent remarks from Vice President JD Vance and The Simpsons creator Matt Groening?

US Vice President on August 27 sparked the discussion. Vance revealed he is ready to assume the presidency in case of a "terrible tragedy", stressing that the 79-year-old was fit and energetic, adding that unforeseen events could not be ruled out. The timing of the comment raised eyebrows in the political landscape with many people connecting dots to the prominent bruise on Trump's right hand that went viral.

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Trump bruises spark health concern

President Trump's recent pictures with a prominent bruise on his right hand are going viral, fueling speculation around his health. Similar images were captured earlier in February, during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, despite his repeated claims of being in excellent health.

Trump has been spotted with bruising on his right hand and swollen ankles on several occasions last year. In July, the White House released a letter that revealed that he was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which his physician described as "benign and common."

Trump, who turned 79 in June, has long faced scrutiny over his health, concerns have increased as more images show bruising on his hands and swelling in his legs. In July, the White House shared a report from Sean Barbabella, Trump's physician, that said the president had CVI, but that no "signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness were identified."

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Recently, Trump was photographed with a smaller bruise on his left hand and with a thick layer of make up on the back of his right hand while visiting the People's House museum in Washington, D.C. During a meeting with the South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, a bruise covering the majority of Trump's right hand was clearly visible in photos.

White House on Trump's new bruise

The White House has tried to downplay the emergence of a bruise on President Donald Trump’s left hand with the same excuse it offers for the one on his right. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has repeatedly claimed the unsightly marks are because Trump “meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other president in history.”

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After new, smaller bruise was spotted on Trump’s left hand over the weekend as he played golf with former Major League Baseball player Roger Clemens and his son Kacy at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia, White House stuck to the line that Trump got the bruise from frequent handshaking. However, Trump is right-handed, and uses that hand to shake, not his left.

Trump has went to greater lengths to shield his bruises from public view. While signing executive orders in the Oval Office, he kept using his left hand to cover his right. The bruise was still clearly visible at other times, with no makeup to disguise its worrying size and color.