The phrase "Trump is dead" has erupted across social media with a massive spike in speculation about the almost-certainly bogus rumours. Donald Trump hasn't been spotted publicly for three days, and his disappearance has triggered the phrase "Trump is dead" to dominate X and Facebook. This follows recent health worries over images showing the US President with what looks like bruising on his hand.

The current speculation also seems to have been stoked by remarks from Trump's own Vice President JD Vance, alongside Simpsons creator Matt Groening.

Since assuming office, there have been multiple instances when the 79 year old president has vanished from the public eye. Numerous individuals currently spreading the conspiracy theory on social media highlight Trump having no planned appearances this weekend - though this is entirely routine for a president. Trump has also been active on Truth Social since his last public appearance, reports the Mirror.

On August 27, Vance was questioned about whether he would be ready to assume Trump's role should a "terrible tragedy" occur. Speaking to USA Today, Vance emphasised the Commander-in-Chief was in excellent health, whilst acknowledging such a scenario couldn't be dismissed entirely.

"He's the last person making phone calls at night, and he's the first person who wakes up and the first person making phone calls in the morning," Vance said. "Yes, terrible tragedies happen. But I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people.

"And if, God forbid, there's a terrible tragedy, I can't think of better on-the-job training than what I've gotten over the last 200 days." Trump has also encountered health issues of late. In July, the White House acknowledged he suffers from a vein disorder called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which results in leg swelling.

The ailment increases pressure within veins and may cause swelling alongside ulcers, though it isn't considered life-threatening. Prior to Trump's condition being officially disclosed, social media images displaying his swollen legs had triggered health speculation. Earlier this week, what appeared to be bruising was once more observed on the president's hand during an executive order signing.

This followed previous sightings of a bruised hand in a golf video, whilst another photograph from a separate occasion seemed to reveal concealer applied to his hand. Medical professionals suggest the bruising might be linked to recent cannula insertion - potentially indicating the president had received IV treatment for an undisclosed condition.

Simpsons prediction In July, Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, was questioned about the future of the show, which has already spanned 36 seasons. Speaking to Variety, he stated there was "no end in sight" for the series, but intriguingly linked its eventual finale to the demise of a US President. "No, there's no end in sight. We're going to keep going. We're going to go until somebody dies," Groening declared.

He then added: "When you-know-who dies, The Simpsons predicts that there will be dancing in the streets. Except President (J.D.) Vance will ban dancing." Groening's comments caused quite a stir on social media, given the show's reputation for seemingly predicting real-world events. Some fans are convinced that The Simpsons foresaw Trump's ascent to power as far back as 2000.

Despite his recent absence from public view, Trump continues to make his presence felt on his Truth Social platform.

Yesterday, he penned a lengthy post regarding the ongoing trade tariff situation. He asserted "ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT!" after lambasting the "Highly Partisan Appeals Court" for declaring most of them illegal.

Trump warned that if tariffs were rescinded, it would "literally destroy the United States of America".

On the same day, he also posted about the redrawing of a congressional map in Missouri, shared images claiming his economy was "booming", and paid tribute to the controversial WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan.