For several days recently, Donald Trump faded from public view, prompting questions about his health that many in the mainstream media largely overlooked. Despite the president's obvious health problems—including swollen ankles, an uneven gait, bruised hands, and instances of verbal confusion—prestigious news organisations gave scant attention to his near disappearance.
Journalist Jon Passantino of the media newsletter Status criticised the silence, asking: “Why are the biggest newsrooms silent? No front-page write ups. No broadcast packages.” He noted that Trump’s health issues and absence “barely registered in mainstream coverage,” in contrast to the relentless focus on Joe Biden’s age following his poor debate performance in 2024.
The Labour Day weekend saw wild rumours on social media that Trump had died or suffered a stroke, with the Drudge Report running the headline “PRESIDENT HEALTH CRISIS DEEPENS.” In response, Trump’s running mate JD Vance attacked the press, posting: “If the media you consumed told you that Donald Trump was on his deathbed because he didn’t do a press conference for three days, imagine what else they’re lying to you about.”
Trump himself joined the media-bashing during a Fox News appearance, calling coverage “fake news.” However, the White House press secretary insisted Trump has been “completely transparent about his health with the public, unlike his predecessor.” This claim contradicts the fact that no medical briefings were held even after an assassination attempt last year.
When the New York Times eventually covered the issue, it focused on the false rumours of Trump’s death rather than directly addressing the lack of health information. The article, headlined “President Trump Is Alive. The Internet Was Convinced Otherwise,” noted a historical tendency for White House staffs to obscure presidents’ physical problems.
Columbia Journalism School’s Bill Grueskin told the Associated Press that “evidence-based assessments of a president’s health are absolutely fair game” for journalists. With Trump now 79, these questions are unlikely to disappear.
