Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked Donald Trump about the viral rumors circulating online over the holiday weekend about his health in an event at the White House on Tuesday, asking the president bluntly, “How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead?”
“Something completely different, but about a big viral social media trend over the weekend,” Doocy began, after the president wrapped up remarks announcing that the U.S. Space Command will be moving its headquarters from Colorado to Alabama. “How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead? Did you see that?”
“No,” the president replied.
“People didn’t see you for a couple days,” Doocy continued. “1.3 million user engagements as of Saturday morning about your demise.”
“Really? I didn’t see that,” Trump responded.
“Last week I did numerous news conferences, all successful. They went very well, like this is going very well. And then I didn’t do any for two days, and they said, ‘There must be something wrong with him.’ Biden wouldn't do him for months. You wouldn’t see him. And nobody ever said there was ever anything wrong with him. And we know he wasn’t in the greatest of shape,” Trump said. “No, I heard that. I get reports.”
“I did numerous shows and also did a number of Truths, long Truths, I think pretty poignant Truths,” the president said, referring to his social media posts. “No, I was very active over the weekend.”
“They also knew I went out to visit some people at the at the club that I own pretty nearby on the Potomac River. And no, I’ve been very active, actually, over the weekend. I didn’t hear that one. That’s pretty serious,” he continued on.
Trump said the rumors were “fake news” and said “that’s why the media has so little credibility.”
“It’s also sort of a longer weekend. You know, it’s Labor Day weekend,” the president added. “I was very active this Labor Day. I had heard that, but I didn’t hear it to that extent.”
Before the Oval Office event Tuesday, Trump had not held a public appearance for a week as images consistently appeared to show the president with bruising on his hand and swelling in his ankles, prompting speculation about his health. In July, the White House announced that Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency.
