Is Trump Dead? JD Vance Says He's Ready to Step Up as President if Something 'Terrible Happens'

Three days of silence. No rallies, no late-night phone calls, no fiery stage appearances. For a politician as omnipresent as Donald Trump, the gap was enough to send social media into overdrive. Hashtags like #TrumpIsDead trended worldwide, fueled by speculation over his health and stamina.

In a world where the former reality-TV star thrives on visibility, his sudden absence proved irresistible to conspiracy theorists. Was he hiding an illness? Was the White House covering something up? Or, as the darkest corners of the internet suggested, had the most recognizable man in American politics quietly passed away?

JD Vance Steps Into the Spotlight

The chatter around Trump's health has provided an unusual spotlight for his vice president, JD Vance. In an interview with USA Today, Vance was candid: yes, the job carries risks, and yes, he is prepared if 'God forbid' something terrible were to happen.

'I've gotten a lot of good on-the-job training over the last 200 days,' he said, noting that while tragedy can strike unexpectedly, he feels ready to take the helm if required.

At 40, Vance is the third youngest vice president in American history but he insists age is no barrier to responsibility.

Trump's Health: What We Know

Speculation about Trump's wellbeing has only intensified after recent disclosures. Last month, the White House confirmed he has chronic venous insufficiency, a circulatory condition common among older adults, which explained the swelling in his legs.

Photos of bruises on his hands sparked further chatter, but his physician attributed them to aspirin use and, ironically, to Trump's favourite activity – handshaking.

White House physician Dr Sean Barbabella described the bruising as 'benign and common', while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed the president was in 'incredibly good health'.

Author Michael Wolff, who has chronicled Trump for years, offered a more sardonic take: aides see him as 'inexhaustible', though he admitted that 'one day he will just go over'.

'He's the Last to Sleep and the First to Rise'

Vance, eager to quash the swirl of doom, painted a picture of an indefatigable president.

'Most of the people who work around the president are younger than he is,' Vance said, 'but we find he's the last person making phone calls at night, and the first to wake up in the morning.'

It's a reassurance meant not only for voters but for allies abroad, as Trump's political opponents seize on questions about his age and health.

The Verdict

So, is Trump dead? No. Rumours of his demise are little more than internet theatre. Still, his age and medical updates keep the conversation alive – and Vice President JD Vance is clearly positioning himself as a capable understudy should fate intervene.

For now, though, Trump remains very much alive, dialling phones into the early hours, shaking hands until bruised, and proving that speculation may travel faster than truth, but it doesn't change it.