Doctored picture of Trump spreads on-line amid well being considerations

Declare:

A picture shared on social media in September 2025 authentically confirmed U.S. President Donald Trump with a puffy face.

Score:

In early September 2025, an picture claiming to authentically present U.S. President Donald Trump with a puffy face circulated on social media, including to unfounded rumors about his well being in latest weeks.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press workplace shared (archived) the purported picture of Trump in an X publish and not using a caption on Sept. 3:

The picture additionally circulated elsewhere on X, Threads and Fb, with some individuals who shared it speculating in regards to the president’s well being. For instance, one X person who shared the picture on Sept. 1 wrote: “Who else thinks that Donald Trump is, on the very least, critically sick?”

A Snopes reader additionally wrote us trying to confirm the picture’s authenticity. 

Nonetheless, a reverse picture search and evaluation of the picture revealed it was digitally altered. Consequently, we have rated this picture faux.

The unique picture (archived) of Trump was taken by an Related Press photographer in July 2022 (archived). It confirmed him enjoying within the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf event in Bedminster, N.J., in line with the caption.

A side-by-side comparability of the altered picture and authentic picture confirmed that Trump’s facial features, crimson “Make America Nice Once more” hat and white collared shirt bearing the “Trump New York” brand had been the identical in each photographs.

Nonetheless, within the genuine picture, Trump’s confronted appeared a lot thinner and had fewer pronounced wrinkles than it did within the altered model. Trump’s face additionally appeared slimmer in different genuine pictures taken on the identical day.

Newsom’s workplace acknowledged that the picture was edited in an emailed assertion to Snopes.

“In fact it is edited — that is why it is so humorous. We posted it so the world can chuckle on the bumbling, senile President of the US,” Izzy Gordon, director of communications for Newsom’s workplace, stated in response to our inquiry. 

Newsom’s workplace has lately stepped up its efforts to mock Trump on social media, utilizing memes and all-capital-letter posts mimicking Trump’s distinctive type on Fact Social.

For instance, Newsom’s press workplace shared the next publish (archived) on Sept. 2:

The altered picture of Trump wasn’t new — it is made the rounds on social media for greater than three years. We discovered a number of variations posted on X (archived) and Reddit (archived) in 2022. Within the model shared on Reddit, the textual content on Trump’s hat was additionally edited to learn “Traitor.”

There was no proof to assist rumors in August and September 2025 that Trump’s well being was failing, as among the posts sharing the altered picture prompt. Some individuals on social media falsely claimed Trump had died forward of Labor Day weekend within the U.S. Previous to the vacation weekend, others additionally shared an unsubstantiated rumor that he had solely six to eight months to reside.

In July 2025, White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump had continual venous insufficiency, “a benign and customary situation, significantly in people over the age of 70.” 

Pretend pictures and movies of Trump typically flow into on social media. For instance, Snopes debunked a faux video claiming to indicate the president saying “trans individuals do not exist.” We additionally investigated a picture that purportedly confirmed Trump falling in August 2025. 

Sources:

“Trump Says Saudi-Funded Tour Creates ‘Gold Rush’ for Gamers.” AP Information, 29 July 2022, apnews.com/article/sports-donald-trump-henrik-stenson-ryder-cup-a25cf67b7d56b1db7cbb0eba428a25aa. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

Blood, Michael R. “Newsom’s Profile Soars with Trump Redistricting Combat.” AP Information, 22 Aug. 2025, apnews.com/article/newsom-trump-california-house-texas-redistricting-e9546ed352cf5f3eb7739199ac8548c7. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

Christensen, Laerke. “Breaking down Rumor Trump Died over Labor Day Weekend.” Snopes, Snopes.com, 2 Sept. 2025, www.snopes.com/information/2025/09/02/trump-labor-day-weekend-death-rumor/. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

Taija PerryCook. “Breaking down Rumor Trump Solely Has 6 to eight Months to Reside.” Snopes, Snopes.com, 27 Aug. 2025, www.snopes.com/information/2025/08/28/trump-6-to-8-months-to-live/. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.