For the past couple of days, X has been buzzing with a bizarre phrase: “Trump is dead.” The hashtag snowballed into a viral storm, drawing lakhs of posts and fuelling speculation about the US President’s health. ‘Trump is dead’ trending on XSo where did it all begin?The chatter traces back to Vice President JD Vance’s interview with USA Today on August 27. In it, he insisted Donald Trump was in “incredibly good health” and full of energy, but also stressed the need to be prepared for the unexpected. “If, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten,” Vance said, noting his 200 days in office.While intended as reassurance, many online read his words as an ominous hint about succession. At 79, Trump is the oldest president in US history, and health concerns have dogged him in recent months. In July, White House officials confirmed he suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, a vein condition that causes swelling in the legs. Photos of his visibly swollen ankles, along with recent images showing bruises on his right hand during meetings, only added fuel to the rumour mill.WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:“Recent photos of the president have shown minor bruising on the back of his hand. This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking… The president remains in excellent health.”(July) pic.twitter.com/XgDSnEYoRv— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 23, 2025 And none of this was helped by the fact that Trump has already survived two assassination attempts during his campaign trail.The Simpsons connectionThe frenzy took another twist thanks to Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons. Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, Groening joked about the show’s future. According to Variety (via Euronews), he said: “No, there’s no end in sight. We’re going to keep going. We’re going to go until somebody dies… When you-know-who dies, The Simpsons predicts that there will be dancing in the streets. Except President (JD) Vance will ban dancing.”Also Read | Accenture CEO Julie Sweet reveals the one thing you should never say when offered a big jobGiven the show’s uncanny track record of Trump-related predictions—his election win in 2000 and even a re-election storyline years later—Groening’s words lit up conspiracy threads.Despite official assurances that Trump is working long hours and remains “in incredible shape,” the hashtag shows no sign of fading. For now, “Trump is dead” has become the internet’s latest obsession—part rumour, part meme, and part reflection of the uneasy fascination with the health of America’s oldest president.© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd