Donald Trump makes first White House appearance in a week, calls health rumours ‘fake news’

US President Donald Trump pushed back against speculation about his health during his first official public appearance in a week, dismissing online chatter that he had died over the Labor Day holiday weekend as nothing more than “fake news.”

The president combined his denial of the health rumours with a major policy announcement, confirming that the headquarters of the US Space Command will relocate from Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama.

TRUMP REJECTS HEALTH RUMOURS

Addressing rumours about his health, Trump appeared unfazed. “I had not heard about that,” he said when asked about social media posts claiming he had died. He said that he was active during the holiday break, pointing to interviews he had conducted, lengthy posts on Truth Social, and a series of visits to his Virginia golf club.

“I was very busy over the weekend,” Trump said. “Reports about my health are fake news.”

The US President had not held an official event since a lengthy three-hour Cabinet meeting broadcast on camera the previous Tuesday. His absence from the public stage fuelled speculation online, which he dismissed outright.

Despite remaining out of sight for several days, Trump continued to engage with current events on Truth Social, commenting on domestic politics and foreign affairs in his usual prolific manner.

SPACE COMMAND MOVES TO ALABAMA

During his appearance, Trump also announced the relocation of US Space Command’s headquarters. He said the command would move from Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama, a city long associated with America’s space industry.

“I am thrilled to report that the US Space Command headquarters will move to the beautiful locale of a place called Huntsville, Alabama — forever to be known, from this point forward, as Rocket City,” Trump said.

Huntsville, often nicknamed “Rocket City” for its role in NASA’s Apollo missions and ongoing space programmes, has lobbied for years to host Space Command permanently.

– Ends

With inputs from agencies

Tune In