The White House on Saturday denied viral social media rumors that President Trump had been hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
The claims spread so rapidly that “Trump Walter Reed” and “Trump hospital” trended on Google, with more than 500,000 searches, remaining active into Sunday morning.
The speculation began after the White House called a press lid at 11:08 a.m. ET on Saturday, April 4, indicating that Trump would not make further public appearances that day. Trump had not been seen publicly since his Wednesday night address on the Iran war and remained in Washington for Easter rather than traveling to Mar-a-Lago. Some users on X then began circulating unverified claims that roads and airspace near Walter Reed had been restricted.
The White House’s Rapid Response 47 account responded: “Deranged liberals cook up insane conspiracy theories when @POTUS goes 12 hours without speaking to press.”
Amid the online speculation, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said: “There has never been a President who has worked harder for the American people than President Trump. On this Easter weekend, he has been working nonstop in the White House and Oval Office. God Bless him.”
A CBS News producer photographed a Marine sentry standing guard at the West Wing door at 1:50 p.m. Saturday — a customary signal that the president is inside. Trump also posted nine times on Truth Social on Saturday on topics including the Iran standoff and jobs report, and had posted at least six times on Sunday as of Sunday afternoon.
No photos, confirmed sources or official statements supported the claims that the president had been hospitalized. Videos and images circulating online were either unverified or recycled from past events.
Yahoo News reached out to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for comment.
