Summary
Over Labor Day weekend, false rumors spread on social media that former President Donald Trump was dead or seriously ill. Despite the speculation, Trump was seen and heard publicly, including speaking at the White House. The spread of the rumors involved mischaracterized comments and amplified social media posts.
Key Facts
- On social media, rumors circulated that Trump had died, with hashtags like #trumpisdead trending.
- Trump was alive and active; he spoke live at the White House on September 2.
- Complaints stemmed from a quote by Vice President JD Vance that was taken out of context.
- Trump has a non-life-threatening health condition, which was exaggerated in some posts.
- The phrase "Trump is dead" was widely shared, appearing over 5,616 times on several platforms.
- Rumors gained traction after a six-day gap in Trump's public appearances.
- An erroneous August 29 post claimed Trump had died on a Wednesday without evidence.
- Social media engagement around the rumors included millions of views and likes.
