‘Why was Trump late?’: Big announcement presser sparks questions amid health concerns

President Donald Trump was about 45 minutes late to his press conference on Tuesday amid health concerns

Published on: Sep 3, 2025, 01:58:50 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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President Donald Trump was about 45 minutes late to his press conference on Tuesday amid health concerns. As the 79-year-old addressed rumors about his health, including the viral ‘dead’ trend, viewers noticed his hands and hair, raising doubts about the president's well-being. Several social media users were concerned and asked - ‘Why was Trump late?’

Donald Trump listens to a question during an event to announce that the Space Force Command will move from Colorado to Alabama, (REUTERS)

One person tweeted: "Trump's hands are visibly 2 different colors today."

“Trump is 45 minutes late for the press conference that is supposed to be convincing people that he’s healthy,” commentator Harry Sisson posted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

This comes as Trump's appearance has caused concerns. Last week, false rumors did the rounds on social media, with ‘Trump is dead’, trending on X. The 79-year-old said that reports on social media that he is in ill health are untrue, saying he was busy over the Labor Day weekend giving media interviews and visiting his Virginia golf club.

"I was very active over the weekend," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Asked if he was aware of the reports, he called them "fake."

“You know, I have heard it's sort of crazy, but last week, I did numerous news conferences, all successful. They went very well. Like this is going very well, and then I didn't do any for two days, and they said there must be something wrong with him. Biden wouldn't do them for months, you wouldn't see him, and nobody ever said there was ever anything wrong with him, and we know he wasn't in the greatest of shape,” he added.

On July 17, the White House acknowledged concerns about President Trump’s health after images showed swelling around his ankles and discoloration on his right hand. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the president had swelling in his lower legs and bruising on his hand, which appeared covered with makeup in photos.

A letter from Trump’s physician, Dr Sean Barbabella, explained that medical tests identified the swelling as ‘chronic venous insufficiency’, a non-serious but common circulatory condition in older adults. The hand bruising, Barbabella added, likely stemmed from frequent handshakes combined with Trump’s daily use of aspirin, part of a preventive heart-health regimen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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