Rumors about President Donald Trump’s alleged death have been spreading online after a series of viral claims sent social media into overdrive.
But while hashtags like “Trump is Dead” and “It Happened” trended on X (formerly Twitter), the reality behind the half-mast flags at the White House is very different.
On August 30, eagle-eyed users noticed the United States flag flying at half-mast at the White House. Combined with Trump’s absence from a scheduled cabinet meeting and claims that he hadn’t been seen in public for “several” days, speculation exploded.
Screenshots circulated of the White House website showing it would go “LIVE shortly,” fueling the frenzy.
But the flags weren’t a sign of presidential tragedy.
They were lowered after Trump himself ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff across federal buildings and installations in honor of victims of the Minneapolis mass shooting, where two children were killed and 17 others injured during a service at Annunciation Church.
Flying a flag at half-mast is a longstanding tradition symbolizing mourning or respect. Originating in naval customs, the flag is not lowered exactly halfway, but slightly above, leaving symbolic space for the “invisible flag of death” above it.
Still, conspiracy theories and memes spread rapidly. Claims that Trump hadn’t been seen for days, paired with close-up photos showing a bruise on his hand and images of apparent swelling in his legs, gave fuel to speculation.
Vice President JD Vance inadvertently stoked rumors further in an August 27 interview with USA Today. While insisting the president was in good health, he hedged: “Yes, terrible tragedies happen.
"But I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people. And if, God forbid, there's a terrible tragedy, I can't think of better on-the-job training than what I've gotten over the last 200 days.”
Analysts have also stepped in to clarify what would happen if a sitting president did pass away. Under the 25th Amendment, the Vice President assumes the presidency immediately - no sudden election is triggered simply by a president’s death.
The White House later dismissed the chatter about Trump's health, attributing the bruising to “minor skin irritation from hand-shaking and taking aspirin,” and confirmed there were no signs of “blood clots, heart failure, or systemic illness.”
The rumors were soon debunked after Trump was seen "alive and well" playing golf in Virginia on Saturday morning, as reported by the Tribune.
The rumors were finally put to rest on Sunday (August 31) after Trump took to his Truth Social platform to write: “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE. Also, DC IS A CRIME FREE ZONE,” pointing to a sharp drop in violent crime since his administration assumed control of the DC Metropolitan Police Department.