"Recently, the phrase "Trump is Dead" began trending on the social media platform X. By the next day, more than 158,000 posts had used the phrase, while 42,000 used the words "TRUMP DIED." A similar trend appeared on TikTok, with one video quickly gaining 3.5 million views. The rumors subsided after Trump was photographed on his way to play golf, although a few people, posting with apparent conviction, suggested that the figure in the image may have been a body double."
"Rumors are unverified stories of perceived importance that are emotionally resonant and develop in an atmosphere of ambiguity on subjects of public interest. To spread, they must also have some degree of plausibility. Rumors involving the demise of prominent political figures and celebrities are not uncommon. There have been premature reports of the death of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, former North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il, and Queen Elizabeth II. In fact, nearly every U.S. president has been the subject of death rumors."
"Rumors never appear out of thin air; they develop organically and spread within a specific context. The backdrop for the "Trump is Dead" rumors was recent concerns over his health. Earlier this year, speculation as to his well-being grew after a photo of what appeared to be a bruised hand went viral. This fueled theories that he was sick and had been on an IV drip."
Social media amplified a viral "Trump is Dead" rumor across platforms, producing hundreds of thousands of posts and millions of video views before subsiding after a public appearance. A segment of users suggested the photographed figure was a body double. Rumors are defined as unverified, emotionally resonant stories that flourish amid ambiguity and require plausibility to propagate. Death rumors about political leaders and celebrities are historically common, with examples including Stalin, Kim Jong-il, and Queen Elizabeth II. Recent health-related events and images provided contextual openings that increased speculation about the public figure's condition.
Read at Psychology Today
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