U.S. President Donald Trump replies to a question during an event to announce that the Space Force Command will move from Colorado to Alabama, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 2, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Fox News' Peter Doocy asked President Donald Trump about the internet rumors that spread over the weekend that he was dead or gravely ill. While some bought into the rumors, the larger conversation among political commentators was about Trump's persistent health issues, dark bruises that have popped up on both of his hands, and his week-long disappearance from cameras.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Trump seemed shocked by the question.
"How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead?" Doocy asked. Trump seemed clueless. "You see that?" Doocy asked,
"No," Trump replied, before fumbling around for an answer.
It sent those online to ask even more questions.
"Doocy asked Trump if he saw that he was 'dead' according to Twitter. He said he has no idea. Then says, he heard about it. Says he did numerous shows, long 'Truths,' was very active. Then says he never heard about the rumor. Then says: 'they wondered if I was OK, but didn't hear it to that extent,'" described foreign affairs reporter Olga Nesterova on Bluesky.
"Incoherence. With access to nuclear weapons unless he’s given control over that to Miller Vought or big balls," replied legal analyst Dr. Tracy A. Pearson, J.D.
"Tump Reek in the Press Corps asking him about being dead actually isn't the slamdunk MAGA thinks it is. Trump responding to it puts it in the mainstream conversation now and puts focus back on his health...and his ankles...and his palm... Genius move, MAGA. Thank you," wrote Wajahat Ali, who writes "The Left Hook."
"Well. He’s puffier and oranger than usual. His hair is insane. But that seems pretty normal to me," observed "Mueller, She Wrote's" Allison Gill.
"Here's Trump rambling for about a minute and a half way too seriously to the question about whether or not he was actively dead," posted Media Matters researcher Craig Harrington and including the video.
Progressive platform "Call to Action," founded by attorney Joseph Gallina, remarked on X, "If this is quelling rumors of his decline, it's not working."
Others couldn't help but note that Trump appeared not to know about the rumors despite posting about them on Truth Social over the weekend.
"NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE," he said.
Others joked about the conspiracy theory, sarcastically claiming that the video was clearly pre-recorded because Trump had already died.
One influencer and political commentator dissed Doocy about wasting the question with a joke and not asking Trump any questions about his bruises and other health issues.
See the clip below or at the link here.
Absolutely USELESS Peter Doocy wastes a question and lets trump off the hook by framing a question about his ailing health "How did you find out that you were dead?"
Nothing about his bruises, shit thrown out of winsdows, etc.
Worthless jackass. pic.twitter.com/PqnxOqZiks
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) September 2, 2025