Donald Trump has revealed how he found out about rumours he was dead - with a dig at former president Joe Biden.
The US President addressed the speculation that spread online at the weekend suggesting he might be dead, since he hadn't been seen in public for a couple of days. While he initially said he hadn't heard about the rumours, Trump then described them as "crazy" and went on to explain how he found out about what was being said online regarding his health.
During a press conference from the White House's Oval Office this afternoon, Trump was asked about the viral social media trend which claimed he had passed away, with a journalist asking: "How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead? Did you see that?" At first, he replied: "No."
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The reporter then revealed 1.3 million users on social media had engaged with the trend, as Vice President JD Vance shook his head while standing behind Trump. But the President then admitted he had in fact heard about the speculation regarding his health, which fuelled rumours he was dead, saying: "I have heard, it's sort of crazy. But 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 anything for two days and they said, 'There must be something wrong with him.'" At this point Trump took a dig at Biden, saying that at times people wouldn't see him around "for months" and nobody ever made such comments about him, before adding: "Even though we knew he wasn't in the greatest of shape."
Trump then revealed he gets "reports" regularly, which is how he found out about the speculation regarding his health. But he then appeared to say he hadn't actually heard about the claims that he was dead. He said: "I didn't hear that one. That's pretty serious stuff. Well, it's just fake news."
The President went on to say he was "very active" over the Labor Day weekend as he concluded: "I heard that, but I didn't hear it to that extent." During today's much-awaited announcement, Trump revealed US Space Command is moving from Colorado to Alabama, reversing a Biden-era decision to keep it at its temporary headquarters in Colorado. Space Command's functions include conducting operations like enabling satellite-based navigation, troop communication and providing warning of missile launches.
Alabama and Colorado have long battled to claim Space Command because it has significant implications for the local economy. The site also has been a political prize, with elected officials from both Alabama and Colorado asserting their state is the better location.
Huntsville, Alabama, nicknamed 'Rocket City', has long been home to the Army's Redstone Arsenal and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. The Army's Space and Missile Defense Command is also located in Huntsville, which drew its nickname because of its role in building the first rockets for the US space programme.
The announcement caps a four-year back-and-forth on the location of Space Command. The Air Force in 2021 identified Army Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as the preferred location for the new US Space Command. The city was picked after site visits to six states which compared factors such as infrastructure capacity, community support and costs to the Defense Department.
Then-President Joe Biden in 2023 announced Space Command would be permanently located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which had been serving as its temporary headquarters. Biden’s Democratic administration said keeping the command in Colorado Springs would avoid a disruption in readiness.
A review by the Defense Department inspector general was inconclusive and could not determine why Colorado was chosen over Alabama. Trump, a Republican who enjoys deep support in Alabama, had long been expected to move Space Command back to Alabama.
Today's announcement marks Trump's return to the public eye after days of absence, which saw wild rumours he was dead spread on social media - even though he was seen playing golf at the weekend. The 79-year-old Republican politician also faced rumours about his health after photographs showed mysterious dark bruises on the back of his hand.
In a brief Truth Social post on Sunday evening, he wrote: "NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE." Vice President JD Vance seemed to fuel speculation when he spoke about taking over from the President should anything happen to him. On August 27, Vance was asked whether he would be prepared to step into Trump's shoes should a "terrible tragedy" take place. In an interview with USA Today, Vance stressed Trump was in great shape, but added the possibility could not be ruled out.
"He's the last person making phone calls at night, and he's the first person who wakes up and the first person making phone calls in the morning," Vance said. "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."
