Some posts suggested a medical emergency, while others went much further, alleging that the president had died and that information was being withheld.

Still, there were also signs pointing in the opposite direction. Journalists noted that standard protocols appeared unchanged at the White House, including the presence of a Marine sentry outside the West Wing, an indicator that the president was inside and working.

Trump was also active on the social media, posting multiple messages about policy issues, including foreign affairs and immigration, suggesting continued engagement with his duties.

On X, Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote: “I know all of you and him and he has gone insane, and all of you are complicit. I’m not defending Iran but let’s be honest about all of this.”

She went on: “The Strait is closed because the US and Israel started the unprovoked war against Iran based on the same nuclear lies they’ve been telling for decades, that any moment Iran would develop a nuclear weapon.

“You know who has nuclear weapons? Israel. They are more than capable of defending themselves without the US having to fight their wars, kill innocent people and children, and pay for it. Trump threatening to bomb power plants and bridges hurts the Iranian people, the very people Trump claimed he was freeing.”

Why health rumors spread so easily

The episode highlights a broader trend: the rapid spread of unverified claims about public figures, particularly when there is even a small gap in visible activity.