A spokesperson for Donald Trump has been forced to address rumors that the president had died or was receiving treatment in hospital.
Trump’s health has been the focus of significant attention in his second term, as people observe the way he speaks, moves, as well as noticing things about his behaviour and appearance, and his age.
One occasion which has previously prompted speculation about Trump’s health was in late 2024 and 2025, when people noticed blotches or bruises on his hands.
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In another incident, on August 27 2025 US Vice President JD Vance said that he was ready to be president – and given that the Vice President steps in if the president dies in office this immediately sparked rumors that Trump was dead or terminally ill.
Now, the White House has responded to further speculation about Trump’s health.
There has been a lot of speculation about Trump’s health (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Taking to X, Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung wrote: “There has never been a President who has worked harder for the American people than President Trump.
“On this Easter weekend, he has been working nonstop in the White House and Oval Office. God Bless him.”
The latest speculation is that Trump was being treated at the Walter Reed National Medical Center.
On Saturday at around 11.08 in the morning, the White House announced that Trump would not make a public appearance for the rest of that day, which is unusual as Trump usually goes to Mar-a-Lago at the weekends, where he plays golf.
Trump has gone to Walter Reed National Medical Center in the past, with his last visit being back in October 2025 for an MRI scan.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One at the time, Trump confirmed that he had the scan, saying: “I did. I got an MRI. It was perfect.”
The White House has responded to the speculation (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Prior to this, speculation about Trump’s health was renewed when people noticed that he appeared to have a scabbing rash on his neck.
The symptom was spotted at a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on March 2.
People spotted what appeared to be scabs and a large red rash on Trump’s neck, going from the back of his hairline to behind his ear.
White House physician Dr Sean Barbabella said in a statement: “President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment, prescribed by the White House Doctor.”
Dr Barbabella added: “The president is using this treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks.”Featured Image Credit: Nathan Howard/Getty Images
Iran’s military responds after Trump threatens to blast them ‘back to the Stone Ages’
It comes as Iran issued an update about the Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s military has responded after US president Donald Trump used a primetime address to threaten to strike the country and send it ‘back to the Stone Age’.
In a televised speech on Wednesday evening, Trump addressed the conflict, hours after claiming that Iran had requested a ceasefire, an assertion Tehran has denied.
Writing on his social platform Truth Social, Trump said Iran’s ‘new Regime president’, whom he described as ‘much less radicalised and far more intelligent than his predecessors’, had asked the US for a ceasefire.
However, he added: “We will consider when [the] Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages.”
The US president has said he is in contact with unnamed Iranian officials, though Tehran has denied any negotiations are taking place.
Trump shared the claim on Truth Social (Truth Social)
Iran’s foreign ministry later described Trump’s ceasefire claim as ‘false and baseless’ in comments broadcast on state television.
In response to the speech, Iran’s military warned the US and Israel that it would carry out further ‘crushing’ attacks.
A statement said: “With trust in Almighty God, this war will continue until your humiliation, disgrace, permanent and certain regret, and surrender. Await our more crushing, broader, and more destructive actions.”
Yesterday evening (April 1), Iran also issued an update about the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been blocked since the start of the war and has had devastating consequences on the global economy.
The Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since the start of the war (Google Maps)
Ebrhamin Azizi, the head of Iran’s National Security Commission, wrote on X: “Trump has finally achieved his dream of ‘regime change’ – but in the region’s maritime regime!
“The Strait of Hormuz will certainly reopen, but not for you; it will be open for those who comply with the new laws of Iran.
“The 47 years of hospitality are over forever.”
Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika ships that ‘do not belong to the aggressor and are not related to them’ will be allowed to pass through the strait ‘after necessary coordination with our authorities’.
It comes as the UK announced it would host 35 countries – excluding the US – to discuss diplomatic measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said during his address the US did not rely on oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that other countries should take responsibility for reopening it.
He also reiterated previous positions, including praise for US military personnel and his insistence that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons.
The speech also once again doubled down on a timeline of roughly two to three weeks for the war to end (Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images)
While declining to set a firm end date for what he called Operation Epic Fury, Trump said its ‘core objectives’ were ‘near completion’ and suggested a timeframe of ‘two to three weeks’, warning that the US would strike Iran ‘extremely hard’ in that period.
He also defended the decision to go to war, describing Iran as a ‘murderous regime’ that ‘should have been handled long before I arrived in office’.
In his closing remarks, Trump went on to explain that the US ‘holds all the cards’ in the conflict as he insisted he didn’t need to attack the country, but chose to do so for the good of national and global security.
He also insisted that he hadn’t set out with the intention of triggering a regime change in Iran or liberating its people, but it had happened coincidentally after the US killed the country’s leaders in a targeted bomb strike.