Trump’s Health Rumors Spark Frenzy: Stroke or Political Ploy?

According to Rokna, images highlighting Trump’s physical appearance at the 9/11 anniversary event have again placed his health in the global spotlight. In these images, one side of his face appeared drooped, prompting speculation about a minor stroke.

Trump, who at 79 has a history of health issues such as chronic venous insufficiency—which can cause swelling and bruising—has been reported by official U.S. and international media as largely healthy, with these rumors considered largely unfounded and social-media driven.

Recent Event: Facial Drooping at 9/11 Anniversary

On September 12, 2025, the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Trump attended a ceremony at the Pentagon. Photographs and videos showed noticeable drooping on the right side of his face, particularly around the mouth and cheek.

These images quickly went viral on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. Podcaster Ben Miseslas described it as a “droopy face,” claiming that Trump appeared “confused and disoriented,” suggesting a possible stroke.

Some social media users compared these visuals with past videos and with stroke symptoms using the FAST acronym (Face, Arms, Speech, Time). These rumors were compounded by prior reports of hand bruising—attributed to repeated handshakes—and ankle swelling, sparking speculation about blood-thinning medication usage, such as aspirin, and potential falls.

Media Coverage and Expert Opinions

Reputable media covered the incident while stressing that no evidence confirmed a stroke. The Economic Times listed potential causes of facial drooping—including stroke, Bell’s palsy, ear infections, skull fractures, autoimmune disorders, tumors, Lyme disease, sarcoidosis, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and Guillain-Barré syndrome—but did not attribute any specifically to Trump, noting that the White House had provided no official update.

Mirror described the drooping as “very apparent” and noted stroke-related signs, but emphasized that the White House in July 2025 attributed Trump’s health issues to chronic venous insufficiency, which can cause swelling and bruising, without suggesting serious conditions such as deep vein thrombosis.

Yahoo News labeled the claims “virtual rumors” and noted Trump had not appeared publicly four days prior to the event. However, no stroke was confirmed by the White House or Trump himself.

Broader Rumors: Death and Health Decline

Rumors surrounding Trump have gone beyond facial drooping, including claims of sudden death in early September 2025. These circulated after his absence from public appearances during the Labor Day weekend, spreading across platforms like TikTok and X with millions of videos asserting he had died or suffered a stroke. Trump, in an Oval Office speech, called the rumors “fake” and affirmed that he had been active, even playing golf.

The Guardian described these rumors as indicative of a “moment in time” where misinformation spreads rapidly, while noting no evidence exists of poor health. Al Jazeera attributed death rumors to fake videos and online speculation.

Regarding overall health, Trump has a history of high cholesterol, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle, which can increase stroke risk. However, official reports from 2025 indicate a normal heart rhythm and no major medical issues.

Reuters confirmed that Trump dismissed the rumors and that the White House declared his recent medical examinations “normal.” NBC News reported that Trump, who previously questioned the health of rivals such as Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, now describes himself as “healthy.” BBC released a video of Trump denying the rumors in the Oval Office. ABC News highlighted the diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, noting it can cause visible symptoms such as swelling, but that Trump appeared normal in public appearances following the 9/11 anniversary, including a Fox & Friends interview, where he spoke clearly with no visible facial drooping.

Assessment by Reputable Media

Reputable American and international media outlets, including Newsweek, The New York Times, and Reuters, classify these reports as social-media rumors and assess Trump’s health as normal. Newsweek noted that Trump appeared normal in subsequent public appearances, including a press briefing and during the announcement of the arrest of Charlie Kirk’s alleged assailant.

The Root consulted physicians who stated that without official confirmation from the White House, diagnosing a stroke is difficult, and that visible signs such as facial drooping could be temporary or caused by fatigue rather than stroke. The Guardian and Al Jazeera suggested that death rumors were more politically motivated than medically grounded.

Overall, these outlets consider Trump’s health “manageable”: chronic venous insufficiency is a real condition, and his age of 79 increases certain risks, but no official reports confirm a stroke or cognitive decline. Many media also suggest that rumors of a stroke could be politically motivated.

The White House continues to emphasize his public activities, including press conferences and golf, to counter rumors. However, medical experts caution that a lack of full transparency regarding the health of leaders can intensify speculation, as seen previously with President Biden.