Washington, D.C., August 30, 2025 (AP) - Questions about President Donald Trump’s health circulated today after he had no public appearances scheduled over the long Labor Day weekend, fueling online speculation that he might be ill.

A weekend schedule released Friday showed no White House events for Saturday or Sunday, a rare gap that coincides with growing curiosity over visible bruises on the President’s hand and occasional swelling in his ankles. Social media posts on X claimed that Trump “has not been seen in over 24 hours” and wondered whether the President was ill or “missing,” despite it being a holiday weekend with Memorial Day-style breaks in official activities.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement this morning dismissing the rumors. She described the bruises as “minor soft-tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen,” and reaffirmed that “President Trump is in excellent cognitive and physical health.” Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, also released a brief note asserting that there is “no underlying systemic illness” and attributing the bruising solely to the factors noted by the press secretary.

Vice President J.D. Vance sought to calm concerns in an interview with USA Today today, stating that Trump is “in great health” and joking that he stands “ready to assume presidential duties only in the event of a terrible tragedy”.

Meanwhile, the President remained active on Truth Social, posting messages and photos throughout the morning, further underscoring the White House’s insistence that he is neither ailing nor incapacitated.

Short-Term Outlook

• President Trump will resume public-facing duties on Tuesday, September 2, following the Labor Day holiday, with a rally scheduled in Pennsylvania and meetings with congressional leaders.
• The White House said it will provide an updated physician’s report early next week to “put an end to any lingering speculation.”