Fact Check: Is viral image of Donald Trump looking puffy and 'seriously ill' real?

WASHINGTON, DC: In early September 2025, an image showing President Donald Trump with a noticeably puffy face went viral across X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Threads, fueling widespread rumors about his health.

The photo was even shared by California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office on Wednesday, September 3, on X without a caption, further intensifying speculation. 

Claim: Viral photo shows Trump with puffy face amid health scare rumors

The viral photo depicted Donald Trump appearing frail and swollen-faced, sparking concerns about his health.

On Monday, an X user shared the image alongside the caption, “Who else thinks that Donald Trump is, at the very least, seriously ill?” Newsom’s communications team also reposted the photo, which spread rapidly across platforms.

The image soon became central to a wave of online speculation, including claims that Trump had only months to live or had already died.

Some users openly questioned whether the president was “seriously ill,” while others tied the photo to false claims that Trump had died before Labor Day weekend.

Fact Check: Viral photo of Trump was digitally altered

The image was digitally manipulated, not authentic. A reverse image search traced the original photo to July 2022, when an Associated Press photographer captured Trump playing at the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in New Jersey.

A side-by-side comparison showed Trump’s facial expression, MAGA hat, and collared “Trump New York” shirt were identical in both versions.

However, in the authentic AP photo, the president's face was noticeably slimmer and had fewer wrinkles. The viral version artificially exaggerated puffiness and aging lines.

Newsom’s office later admitted in an email to Snopes that the photo was intentionally edited. “Of course it’s edited — that’s why it’s so funny. We posted it so the world can laugh at the bumbling, senile President of the United States,” said Izzy Gordon, Newsom’s communications director.

Versions of photo have circulated since 2022

The altered Donald Trump image wasn’t new. Versions of it first circulated as early as 2022 on X and Reddit, with one iteration even editing the text on Trump’s hat to read “Traitor.”

Its reappearance in 2025 coincided with a flood of health-related rumors about the president.

In July 2025, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt disclosed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency, a benign, common condition in older adults. Still, fake images and videos have been widely shared to suggest otherwise.

This latest viral photo is part of that larger wave of misinformation targeting Trump’s health and public image.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.