Trump dismisses death rumors as ‘fake news’, says Biden’s months-long silence was never questioned

WASHINGTON, DC: On September 2, President Donald Trump addressed for the first time viral online rumors claiming he was dead.

The speculation grew over the Labor Day weekend after he made no public appearances for several days.

Trump says he was unaware of the death rumors circulating about him 

When Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked Trump about the social media buzz, the president appeared unaware of the claim.

“President Trump, something completely different, but about a big viral social media trend over the weekend. How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead? You see that?” Doocy asked. Trump replied simply, "No."

Doocy continued, noting the speculation had drawn over a million online engagements. “People didn’t see you for a couple of days. One-point-three million user engagements as of Saturday morning about your demise,” Doocy said.

Trump says he was active during Labor Day

Trump responded by pointing to his schedule over the holiday weekend. “No, I’ve been very active actually, over the weekend, I didn’t hear that one, that’s pretty serious,” Trump said during his Oval Office press conference.

He noted he had heard only vague concerns about his well-being. “I knew they were saying, like, ‘Is he okay? How’s he feeling? What’s wrong?’” Trump added. 

The president said he went to his Virginia golf course each day during the weekend and also gave an interview on August 29.

“It’s also sort of a longer weekend, you know, it’s Labor Day weekend. I would say a lot of people know I was very active this Labor Day. I had heard that, but I didn’t hear to that extent,” Trump said.

Trump says that in just two days, people began asking, 'What's wrong?'

Trump also listed his public engagements during the week.

“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 any for two days, and they said, ‘There must be something wrong with him.’ Biden wouldn’t do them for months,” Trump said.

He went further, comparing his visibility with his political rival. “You wouldn’t see him, and nobody ever said there was ever anything wrong with him; and we know he wasn’t in the greatest of shape,” Trump remarked.

Trump also mentioned interviews and his social media activity. “Now, you knew I did an interview that lasted for about an hour and a half with somebody and everybody saw that was on one of your competitors. I did numerous shows and also did a number of Truths, long Truths, I think pretty poignant Truths. No, I was very active over the weekend,” he said.

He noted other outings as well. “They also knew I went out to visit some people at the at the club that I own pretty nearby on the Potomac River. No, I’ve been very active actually over the weekend. I didn’t hear that one. That’s pretty serious. Well, it’s fake news. You know, it’s just so, it’s so fake. That’s why the media has so little credibility,” Trump added.