White House: ok all these death rumors are annoying. Let's use the next excuse to get him in front of the cameras. Hell, Space Command relocating is fine, schedule it.
Trump: 20 minutes late to his own proof of life video and counting— Kururun! (@kururun.bsky.social) September 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
===
Well, he’s back to haggard, instead of bloated, and he’s wearing a tie (not one of his usual eye-drawing red ones), so I guess the IV diuretics over the long weekend did the job. Still can’t keep him on script, of course…
Trump on moving Space Command to Alabama from Colorado: They went to all mail-in voting. So they have automatically crooked elections. When a state is for mail-in voting, that means they want dishonest elections. That played a big factor also
===
What's really going on is that the press corpse got their preferred candidate.
— soonergrunt (@soonergrunt.bsky.social) September 1, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Garrett Graff, at his SubStack, Doomsday Scenario:
If you haven’t been paying attention, Washington and social media have spent Labor Day weekend in a frenzy over Donald Trump’s health. The president, who seems like he can’t stomach staying out of the public eye and spotlight for even a few hours, had no public appearances on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday — nor any over the long weekend. That’s an unusually long period of time out of public view. Searches for “Is Trump dead?” soared on Google Saturday and became one of the most-searched terms of the holiday weekend, and #whereistrump trended on other social media sites. …
The speculation wasn’t helped by a series of strange answers J.D. Vance gave in a USA Today interview last week, where he said he was ready to be president if needed: “I’ve gotten a lot of good on-the-job training over the last 200 days.” Maybe that’s just Vance being awkward and strange — it’s hard to think of any subject where Vance giving an interview has helped — but Trump himself (or someone on his social media accounts) also engaged with the speculation by posting a “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE” post on Truth Social, which might rank second only this weekend to Rudy Giuliani’s bizarre car accident for raising more questions than it answered…
To me, there are six clear reasons we should be talking about this more than we are and why the press corps should be digging more deeply and more seriously around this topic:
1) The bruised hands. The puzzle of Trump’s badly bruised and heavily make-up-ed hands has been one of the summer’s odder presidential story lines. The White House has maintained that the bruises come from how much Trump loves shaking hands. “President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history. His commitment is unwavering and he proves that every single day,” Karoline Leavitt said…
2) The pattern changes. Donald Trump is basically the most habit-bound and routine-bound man we know in American politics. And yet we’ve seen some major departures of his routine in recent weeks — including, not least of all, that he stuck in Washington all this weekend. Trump takes off for one of his golf resorts the first chance he can nearly every weekend of the year, and yet he’s just choosing to spend an extra-long holiday weekend hanging out at the White House? Why? Is his medical team wanting to keep him closer to top secure medical facilities?…
3) The years of lies. Normally, the health of the president is very much the nation’s business. This is a person who at any hour of any day might be called upon to make enormous decisions — including, of course, the ultimate unilateral decision about whether to launch military action or even go to nuclear war. And yet from the start of his presidential campaign, bald-faced lies and exaggerations of Donald Trump’s personal vitality have been the norm. According to his personal doctor, he even personally dictated the 2015 campaign letter from his physician that declared, “Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.”
We know less real information about Donald Trump’s health than any president in modern times — arguably since JFK’s doctors covered up the extent of his pain in the presidency. Much of what passes for health information from Trump is laughably exaggerated, so bare bones as to be equally dubious, or — like this summer’s trickle — only released under pressure…
We’ve had presidents be incapacitated before — a spectrum that has ranged from Dwight Eisenhower’s heart attack to Woodrow Wilson’s stroke to James Garfield lingering for 80 days before succumbing to infections that stemming from his shooting in 1881 to, well, Donald Trump getting Covid in 2020.
We’ve never had a president face serious medical problems in an age as volatile as now. Should we be worried about Donald Trump’s health? We have no idea. And that should lead to more questions around the White House than it is….
Lie, Cheat, Steal. Circumvent the Law. Repeat.
MisterForkbeard
Sorry, he still looks like death warmed over. Was late to his own press conference, couldn’t stay on topic, heavily made up and probably drugged for extra energy.
I’m still on the “he was really ill, but he’s also old, weak, and literally demented” trai
(frist!)
Baud
Parties don’t plan themselves.
Trivia Man
Ask him if he thinks JD is ready to be president
NickM
He was on the good stuff today and still barely coherent and able to stand.
What is the likely reason they can only give him IVs in that one hand, and not say in his upper arm or leg?
gene108
@NickM:
I’ve had IV’s in my hand, when they couldn’t find a good vein or stick the vein in my lower arm.
I’ve never had an IV attempted in my upper arm or any part of my leg. I’m not sure if there’s a medical reason or going to the hand is just faster and easier than trying to search elsewhere.
cain
Yet the press coverage of these events pale in comparison to the media coverage when Hillary fainted that one time while running for President.
Of course, I can’t help but feel better for the way that Biden treated not only by the press but by senior Dem party people and the big donors. The man was literally hounded off the campaign trail. This asshole gets the soft touch for everything.
Deputinize America
What if I don’t give a shit about his health, and would celebrate with kazoos and trombones when he shed this mortal coil?
Elizabelle
I hope Trump is dying, and soon. Horrible man.
I want Joe Biden to survive him. By years and years.
Soprano2
I’ve had IV’S in the hand because they couldn’t find a good vein in my arm.
Ai I’m in St. Louis at Barnes Occular Oncology waiting for the doctor to examine my eye. Wish for something benign.
EDITED by WG so everyone will see the good news from Soprano2:
cain
@Soprano2:
🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾
Jeffro
@Elizabelle: THANK YOU, ME TOO
ETA: Mrs. Fro and I were out shopping for some furniture yesterday and as we were close to finalizing our purchase/delivery…in stopped two elderly ladies sporting DJT t-shirts, red MAGA caps, red/white/blue ensemble, the whole nine yards. I actually LOL’d.
Maybe Gavin Newsom’s approach is rubbing off on me because my first thought was, “What if I rolled into a furniture store sporting all kinds of ‘Biden-wear’ ?” Would that get across to trumpov’s cult members how insane they look?
I won’t do that…but when ol’ Donnie departs, I will probably carry a box of Kleenex around openly for that whole week. Just to offer tissues to the unconsolable loons who worship him.
Anne Laurie
*Both* of Trump’s hands have been bruised, recently.
From recent unpleasant experience (I lost approximately 50 pounds of water weight during a month in the hospital), they start puncturing the back of the hands when they can’t get a good line into your inner elbows any longer.
Other veins usually require minor surgery to access, so they’re not suitable for something like this.
Maybe Trump *doesn’t* have congestive heart failure, but his appearance here isn’t gonna scotch those rumors!
hells littlest angel
I think it’s time to have an uproariously hilarious conversation about Trump’s health.
Shakti
Is he dying? He’s alive? Oh.
I am dissociating.
I entered several dates in my calendar I have to deal with regardless of the reality show of this man’s health or not. Festival season is in swing; and this country has become not welcoming to my religion, if not hostile.
I love how these shits have made everything that much more complicated and stressful and expensive.
WaterGirl
@Soprano2: Pins and needles doesn’t even begin to cover it. Hopefully you will have reassuring news very soon.
Scout211
@Soprano2: Sending you good wishes for good news.
eclare
@Deputinize America:
Vuvuzuelas!
Tony Jay
@Soprano2:
All the good thoughts.
eclare
@Soprano2:
I was wondering what the next step was. Everything crossed for you here.
M31
a serious conversation about Trump’s health where we also point and laugh
and also kick Jake Tapper in the nads
Shakti
@Soprano2: I have my fingers crossed for you.
M31
also I’m announcing right now that when I’m in line to piss on Trump’s grave that I will graciously allow any fired CDC workers, NIH canceled grant recipients, and Epstein victims to cut in line in front of me
eclare
When I had anesthesia for a colonoscopy last October they went in through my hand, didn’t even try my arm.
Just FYI.
Suzanne
@Soprano2: Hugs and best wishes for you.
mrmoshpotato
@hells littlest angel:
Like planning how we’ll party hard once he finally IS fucking dead?
laura
@Soprano2: Manifesting good news for you.
I’m already working 2 plans for “when he kicks it.” I’m gathering ingredients for three devil’s food cakes, two of which I’ll hand off at the Davis park&ride. We’ll hold a very brief celebration including prayers for a brighter future, shit talk, hugs and laughter. The second plan is creating a song list that will start with EW&F’s Celebrate, the DK’s Nazi punks fuck off and many, many more.
I’ve already recently watched The death of stalin, so I’m primed for all the backstabbing and jockeying. I anticipate joyous phone calls with the Roadie Brothers, and there is going to be a champagne and devil’s food cake party in the street with all, or most, of the neighbors. I’m as ready as can be. So Very Ready.
Tehanu
Is he kidding? What I’m worried about is, how long is that orange toad going to keep screwing everything up, and will it stop as soon as humanly (or divinely) possible?
Barbara
@Soprano2: I’ve been scarce and missed the back story but wishing you the best of luck.
Suzanne
I am seeing on socials that Cory Booker is engaged. That makes me very happy for him!
ETA: Slightly less dramatic than the Taylor/Travis engagement, but just as cute!
Chief Oshkosh
Will he release the Epstein files before he dies? That’s all I care about…
Elizabelle
@Soprano2: Wishing you the best news. Waiting is nerve wracking.
eclare
@Suzanne:
Wow. Didn’t know he was dating anyone.
But yeah, congratulations!
Suzanne
Mr. Suzanne notes that he hopes that soon-to-be Mrs. Booker enjoys Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. LOL.
Bex
Trump was asked about the video circulating of things (black plastic bags) being thrown out of one of the White House windows. He said he didn’t know anything about it, the said it must have been AI because the windows can’t be opened. Anybody know if that’s true? Also in my opinion he was too quick with the AI explanation.
WaterGirl
@Suzanne: hahaha
Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony
@Soprano2: Definitely wishing for something benign.
mrmoshpotato
@Soprano2: Hope everything turns out to be ok.
Suzanne
@WaterGirl: At least Booker wore pants. Travis Kelce proposed in shorts and I cannot help but give the side-eye.
MattF
Not the least bit surprised that the huuuuge announcement turned out to be a nothingburger. This has happened over and over and over again— the only actual surprise is that people keep falling for this gambit.
And Trump, his staff, his entourage, will continue to lie about his health. Always. Always. Always.
Time for a nice, warming meal. Tinned fish over thin spaghetti. With oil, grated Parmesan, sliced cherry tomatoes. Using high quality ingredients. Yummy.
MisterForkbeard
@Bex: That’s pretty weird. I wouldn’t believe it either.
Professor Bigfoot
@Soprano2: Sending luck!
eclare
@Suzanne:
You and me both.
They Call Me Noni
@Soprano2: I hope your news is good. I don’t pray but am sending good thoughts and wishes for a good outcome your way.
JBWoodford
@Bex: Wait, AI can push things through windows without breaking the window? Big if true!
Gloria DryGarden
@Soprano2: may it be benign, and easy to resolve. Sheesh, haven’t you got enough on your plate?
They Call Me Noni
@Tehanu: I hope whatever he’s going through has him very worried and involves pain. I’m not normally a vindictive person, but I make an exception in this case.
Soprano2
So it was good news – the doctor says she thinks it’s a freckle. I have to come back in 3 months for a followup, but i heaved a big sigh of relief. My friend who came with me is driving home because my eyes are dialated.
JoyceH
@Bex: there’s video of bags being thrown out of a White House window?
Scout211
@Soprano2: yay!
Baud
@Soprano2:
Fuckin A!
Gloria DryGarden
In case some folks didn’t see the thread about it yet, there’s a Denver meetup this Sunday, in an amazing garden, East Denver. Link in sidebar. We’d love to see you, or to see you again.
request my email to rsvp, and get details.
Soprano2
@Barbara: The eye doctor saw something at the back of my eye that they thought might be cancer. So, fun stuff.
eclare
@Soprano2:
Yay!
Professor Bigfoot
@Soprano2: YAY!
eclare
Oh I want to wade in to the photo today.
zhena gogolia
@Soprano2: Good thoughts for you.
Suzanne
@Soprano2: YAYAYAY!
I had no idea you could get freckles in your eyes. Bodies are wild.
Elizabelle
@Soprano2: Wunderbar.
And as long as you are not driving, an adult beverage would not be objectionable.
Good they are going to watch it.
Scout211
Trump’s an idiot with little grasp of reality
Added: Maybe they only lock the windows for Trump to keep him inside, like child-proofing your cabinets and drawers. And he thinks they don’t open.
Dan B
@Soprano2: Good news! Happy for you!!
Elizabelle
@They Call Me Noni: Frequent and unexpected gastric distress could be good for him, too.
zhena gogolia
@Soprano2: Great!
David Collier-Brown
@Tehanu: I’m just hoping JD Vance can force a takeover before Mr Trump says “I’m dying, so everybody else should” and orders a nuclear attack on the US east coast (:-))
Deputinize America
@eclare:
youtube.com/watch?v=B8_zhEWvNb8
Top 10 Inappropriate Funeral Songs
WaterGirl
@Soprano2: Oh my god, a FRECKLE!
I am heaving a sigh of relief for you!
stinger
@Soprano2:
Oh, that is very good news!
WaterGirl
@Soprano2: I edited your original comment with the outcome so a million people wouldn’t be worried about you as they read the thread late.
Booger
Had to read that twice.
MisterForkbeard
@Scout211: It is entirely possible that in the 5 years Trump spent in the white house he literally never tried to open a window. Or noticed anyone else doing so.
He wouldn’t even try unless someone praised him while doing it.
TONYG
For what it’s worth, it’s obvious to me that the corporate media has been supporting Trump since 2015, because his policies are good for multi-billionaire. As for NPR — they’re just trying not to rock the boat. (NPR was “rewarded” for that by being defunded.)
Nukular Biskits
@Soprano2:
Late to the discussion, but great news.
I’m currently sitting in dr office waiting room to (probably) have a pressure washer shoved in both ears ( I exaggerate slightly) so I can hear again and get rid of this borderline vertigo. Nowhere near as serious is what you were contemplating but it’s still really irritating.
zhena gogolia
@Booger: lololol
zhena gogolia
@Nukular Biskits: Good luck!
artem1s
@David Collier-Brown:
I don’t know. Vance is fully in on the fundie / Domnianist / Opus Dei side of evil. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s bought into the notion that he’s supposed to help bring on the apocalypse. There are plenty of high placed fundies in the GQP who have made it clear they know they are getting Raptured and don’t give a shit about the rest of us.
No GQPer who bent the knee to this anti-Christ should disqualified from ever holding a high office or staff position that could give them access to the nuclear codes.
Bex
@Nukular Biskits: I’ve had that done and it isn’t that bad. Your shirt may be kinda wet when they finish, but really no big deal.
Eyeroller
@Soprano2: I also missed the backstory, I assume you had some lesion? Where on the eye? Glad there is no immediate cause for concern.
Nukular Biskits
@zhena gogolia:
Thanks.
I think I’d rather have a prostate exam than this …
brendancalling
@Jeffro: “What if I rolled into a furniture store sporting all kinds of ‘Biden-wear’ ?”
Where would you even FIND that? I don’t think there’s any Democratic equivalent of that… garish fan-wear.
Nukular Biskits
@Bex:
Oh,it’s been a few (10?) years but I have this done before.
I rank it as somewhere close to, but not quite, having a crown done.
Nukular Biskits
@Bex:
Oh,it’s been a few (10?) years but I have this done before.
I rank it as somewhere close to, but not quite, having a crown done.
ETA: damn it I forgot to bring an additional t-shirt
Nukular Biskits
Well that’s weird I’ve never seen that happen before
Eyeroller
@Suzanne: Parts of the eye have a lot of melanin so things that are kind of more like moles can pop up. If it’s on the white part it does need to be monitored. An in-law’s mother-in-law was just diagnosed with conjunctival melanoma, which presents as dark spot seemingly on the sclera but actually on its covering (the conjunctiva). This is very, very rare, however. Most spots on the eye are these benign ocular nevi.
WaterGirl
@Nukular Biskits:
Come on, man, don’t leave us hanging!
Nukular Biskits
@WaterGirl:
LOL!
I meant the double post.
Randal Sexton
@laura: yeah I’m working on a playlist too.
so far:
Trump gone playlist
Dog days are over
Ding dong the witch is dead
Here comes the sum
Another one bites the dust
mrmoshpotato
@eclare:
Now that you mention it… Yes.
How about some accompanying music?
mrmoshpotato
@Scout211:
Wouldn’t want him to try climbing o to the roof at night.
(Not implying anything except he’s a manbaby.)
Elizabelle
@Jeffro: I wonder if the old birds had come in from a Winsome Sears event or something.
I dunno about wearable apparel, but we definitely have to come up with some snarky and unsympathetic buttons for when Satan calls Trump home (or, if Satan has problems with DJT too, at least conveys him to somewhere awful, never to be heard from again).
mrmoshpotato
@MisterForkbeard: Dump is too stupid to know how windows work.
mrmoshpotato
@TONYG:
They also enjoy masturbating to the ratings they get from “What the fuck did the idiot do now?” – they’ve been pleasuring themselves since 2015.
Keith P.
@Soprano2: I don’t know why, but some nurses LOVE to put IVs in the top of the hand…I guess there are good veins there. But there are also a lot of valves there (I’ve had a pick line go through on, and they had to find a new spot…this is my guess as to Trump’s problem there). My arm has had so many surgeries, I’m down to 1-2 veins left (and my other arm is off limits to pick lines)….some places have to use ultrasound and a mid-line to go into my tricep area(!)
Anyway
They are terrified of being called out in his tweets and other ramblings. Plus he sues them and they roll over.
Gloria DryGarden
@Soprano2: excellent! Sigh of relief.
Miki
@Booger: I’ve always wanted to take an anatomy class …. There’s so much I don’t know.
SW
Weekend at Donald’s
They Call Me Noni
@Elizabelle: With the added benefit of being very embarrassing.
AnneWith
@Keith P.:
When I was given an IV in the back of my hand, I was part relieved that I wouldn’t have to worry about bending my arm, and part indignant that they shoved an IV in the back of my hand. The bending-the-arm bit might be one reason to use the back of the hand.
mrmoshpotato
Beans! The diving dog!
columbusqueen
@eclare: All my stuff, especially blood draws for testing sugar, are on my left hand where I have veins. I’ve got nothing on either arm.
Eyeroller
@AnneWith: You can bend your arm even if it’s in the elbow, once they get a good blood return (so the needle is centered) they run a flexible catheter and remove the needle. The tube is a little stiff but it’s not going to break off or puncture anything.
Eunicecycle
@AnneWith: I’ve had them in the back of the hand and thought they were more painful than in my elbow.
Eyeroller
@Keith P.: The veins on the back of the hand are very superficial and there are usually several on each hand that are easily accessible. But when I’ve had IVs for surgeries they usually prefer a larger vein. I do not have such a problem as you, but I have only about 1-2 good veins in each elbow and they can’t be reused too frequently. So I’ve had an IV in a forearm vein. That was slightly weird. They had to call in the IV specialist nurse to access that vein successfully.
Gin & Tonic
@Eyeroller: My local blood center *loves* me, because I’m O- and I have outstanding veins in both arms. Never a problem.
Lawrence A Schuman
Oh, my. I think ge’s going to die.
satby
@Soprano2: Glad that went well, but not surprised. My son had that experience when he was 19, in TX while living that summer with my ex. Who never even followed it up with a second opinion while I listened to my son become more apathetic and depressed with every phone call since they had left him with the idea he had terminal melanoma. After a month, I insisted he just come back home and I would take him for a second opinion to the eye doctor I worked for previously (and later). Yep, it was a freckle. He’s the one that just became a cop at age 39. There’s a pre-exam screening device that gives so many false positives for potential melanoma my former employer quit using it.
Have I ever mentioned what an absolutely useless asshole my ex is?
AnneWith
@Eunicecycle:
Good to know.
XeckyGilchrist
Yeah we’re going to need to see the LONG FORM life certificate before we believe he ain’t dead
prostratedragon
@Deputinize America:
Good list.
“When the Curtain Comes Down”
Barbara
@Soprano2: My daughter had to go to a neuro-opthalmalogist last year because a normal exam revealed what the doctor thought was a “bulge” but that a more sophisticated exam diagnosed as “specks” on the back of her eye. I honestly can’t remember all the ins and outs of it, but she was told that it’s a normal variant, although I do remember that cancer was a potential diagnosis.
Eyeroller
@satby: The only dangerous (assuming it’s diagnosed) ocular melanoma is conjunctival melanoma, and it’s extremely rare. The only reason I’d been reading about ocular nevi was because my in-law’s in-law won the lottery there and it’s cancer (and she’s about 85). So something of a coincidence to see this. Uveal melanoma isn’t common either, but it’s far more common than conjunctival melanoma, and it’s not all that dangerous as cancers go. Benign freckles, OTOH, are fairly common.
Burrowing Owl
@Soprano2: Great news! I’m glad they will follow up. Hope you are feeling relieved; the wait is never fun.
Kayla Rudbek
@laura: should we also look up John Scalzi’s Schadenfreude pie? whatever.scalzi.com/2006/09/26/how-to-make-a-schadenfreude-pie/
Kayla Rudbek
@David Collier-Brown: I’ve had nightmares where my nephew’s descendants are roaming around Northern Virginia on horseback and riding by the plant-covered ruins of the Metro station not knowing what it was for. Also ones about the interstate highways being lined with hanged corpses after the revolution (this is why I quit reading Stross’ Laundry Files series).
Kayla Rudbek
@Randal Sexton:
Celebration
Happy
different-church-lady
“Presidential Health” has always been a man-bites-dog story: they don’t care if he’s at death’s door, they only cared that Democrats were freaking out about Biden’s health, and they’re only going to care if Republicans start freaking out about Trump’s health. And republicans aren’t going to do that.
Chris T.
@Keith P.:
First a peeve, it’s “PICC line” (maybe that was auto-carrot but you did it twice…). Anyway: they want a vein that’s close to the surface and big enough to get the catheter into. Most people have several good ones near the elbow, and everyone has easily accessible veins at the back of the hand though they tend to be smaller and, yes, have more of those little valve constructs.
Leg veins tend to be deeper seated, hence significantly harder to get to, except sometimes down by the ankles. They also tend to have higher venous blood pressure (well, assuming you’re sitting or standing, lying down helps).