Donald Trump is set to make a mystery announcement from the White House later today (Tuesday, September 2). The US President will take to the Oval Office from 2pm US time (7pm BST), according to an alert issued to the press.
The announcement will come following further speculation around Trump’s health. He was seen being driven from his Virginia golf club to the White House yesterday (Monday, September 1) following a multi-day absence from public view. The 79-year-old’s physical health, including swollen ankles and a hand bruise, have sparked worry since he resumed office.
As reported by the Daily Star, details of Trump’s announcement have not yet been revealed. However, he may decide to address one of the ongoing key issues facing his administration.
These include Trump’s persistent claims about a “crime emergency” gripping Washington. Over 2,000 federal troops are currently stationed in the city, with the President ramping up claims that other cities, such as Chicago, Los Angeles and Baltimore, may require similar intervention.
However, critics say the move goes against available evidence. They have branded Trump’s deployment of National Guard personnel as a bid to escalate the detention of suspected migrants in a city where the mayor stands against his policies.
Trump may also use his announcement to quash speculation on his health. According to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the president was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in July.
The condition, which is relativly common, causes veins in the legs to become unable to efficiently circulate blood back to the heart. It is generally not life-threatening.
On Sunday, Trump shared a photo of himself playing golf with former football coach Jon Gruden on his Truth Social media page. He said: “Great playing Golf with Jon Gruden – A really nice guy, and true character!”
However, the Gurden had posted a similar image on his X account a week earlier which indicates the photo may not have been recent. The picture shows him wearing the same attire.
One social media user responded to the posts: “I’m not a conspiracy theory guy, but if you’re fighting off increasing rumours that you may have suffered a major medical episode and to disprove that rumour and provide proof of life, you post a picture of allegedly playing golf with Jon Gruden today, it would be beneficial to post one that wasn’t from August 23rd.”
Vice President JD Vance also made an oddly-timed comment during an interview with USA Today. He said he was confident in his ability to succeed Trump should a “terrible tragedy” occur.
