The former president’s health has been a topic of intense speculation recently, especially after photographs surfaced showing what appeared to be a large, dark bruise on his right hand. Observers pointed out that the mark seemed to have been covered with an unusually heavy layer of makeup or foundation during a public appearance, sparking questions about what he might be hiding. In addition to this, Trump was recently diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a medical condition in which damaged veins in the legs fail to circulate blood properly, sometimes causing swelling, discomfort, and visible bruising.

On Saturday morning, however, Trump appeared on the South Lawn of the White House accompanied by his granddaughter, Kai Trump, before the two headed to the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. His outing provided a striking rebuttal to the speculation that had been flooding social media over the previous two days.

CNN journalist Barak Ravid also weighed in, dismissing the wild theories by posting on Twitter (X): “A U.S. official tells me: Trump is OK. Will play Golf this morning.”

Why did the death rumors spread so quickly?

One of the primary reasons people began speculating was that Trump had not been seen in public for two consecutive days—an unusual occurrence for a president known for his highly visible schedule and near-daily media appearances. Compounding the uncertainty, he had no official public events on his calendar for Saturday, which fueled the idea that something might have happened behind the scenes. Instead of assuming that Trump had simply taken some private time, corners of the internet jumped straight to the conclusion that he had died.

The “Pentagon Pizza” theory

Adding fuel to the fire was a long-circulating conspiracy theory dubbed the “Pentagon Pizza theory.” According to one Reddit user, pizzerias near the Pentagon become unusually busy whenever a major national security crisis occurs. The user claimed that the sudden uptick in pizza orders around August 30 was a sign that something monumental—such as the president’s death—was unfolding.

This theory has been cited before; for instance, proponents claim there was a spike in pizza deliveries when Trump ordered missile strikes on Iran. One X account dedicated to monitoring pizzeria traffic, Pentagon Pizza Report, even noted: “Various pizzerias nearby the Pentagon are reporting high traffic.” However, the same account later clarified that people often misinterpret what constitutes significant activity, stressing that small fluctuations in business are more likely random noise than evidence of a crisis.

JD Vance’s curious remarks

Speculation escalated further after Vice President JD Vance made comments in an interview that some interpreted as ominous. When asked about his role, Vance reassured the public that he had received “a lot of on-the-job training” in his first 200 days as VP. He quickly added: “The president is in incredibly good health. He has tremendous energy.” But he also acknowledged that “terrible tragedies happen” and emphasized that he was prepared to step in if necessary.

Vance praised Trump’s stamina, saying that while many staffers are younger, Trump consistently works the longest hours—being the last to go to bed and the first to rise, still making calls late at night and early in the morning. Nevertheless, his acknowledgment of potential tragedy struck many as strange, with some online users suggesting he was “foreshadowing” or offering a cryptic warning. One commenter wrote: “Strange thing to say as the VP, no?” while another described the comments as “ominous.”

Health concerns remain in the spotlight

People have pointed out a bruise on Trump's hand (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Even though Trump’s appearance on the South Lawn quelled the death rumors, the visible bruise on his hand continues to generate speculation about his health. Combined with his CVI diagnosis and the secrecy surrounding his medical team’s explanations, questions remain about the president’s overall well-being as he seeks to complete the remainder of his second term.

For now, though, Trump appears determined to carry on as usual, returning to the golf course and projecting an image of vitality despite the whirlwind of rumors that, for a brief moment, convinced much of the internet that he was gone.