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Shkruar nga Felix Busjaeger
Donald Trump's health has been a topic of discussion for weeks. There was even speculation about his death at one point. One thing is certain: the president is old and his successor is unclear...
A visible bruise on his hand, a brief absence from public life: US President Donald Trump is once again stirring speculation about his health. One of the latest examples: a dinner for Republican supporters. At the Rose Garden Club event, Trump promoted future cooperation that would bring "peace and prosperity" to the United States.
But one detail stood out in the evening photos: Trump's hand appeared to be covered in makeup, which has sparked speculation again. These rumors have been circulating for some time, most recently in the form of conspiracy theories about his death. But although the president expressed surprise at a press conference, his health remains a central topic, as do the recurring debates about his successor. The era after the US president is already being debated within Republican ranks.
Republicans are now worried that the current success of Trump's presidency may only be temporary. "We won a battle, but not the war," Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, was quoted as saying by Die Zeit. It was his organization that led the 79-year-old back to the White House with a government program tailored to his needs. But beyond the health care debate surrounding Trump, select Republican circles are already working on the future of the United States.
At the start of his second term, Trump was the oldest U.S. president to enter the White House. During his campaign against Joe Biden, the Republican repeatedly exploited his opponent's health for political gain. While he portrayed himself as in good shape through regular appearances on the golf course, even publicized health checks do little to dispel doubts about his health.
In late August, Trump was absent from public life for three days. Observers and social media groups speculated about his health, including a bruised hand and swollen ankles. The White House responded, calling it “chronic venous insufficiency.” Trump’s silence has contributed to the speculation. He responded to recent rumors circulating online: “I’ve never felt better in my life.”
However, critics doubt the veracity of his statements.
Why is Trump's health getting so much public attention?
According to the New York Times, the public attention may be linked, among other things, to the final months of Biden's presidency. His physical condition deteriorated during appearances before the US elections. Perhaps the US population is currently experiencing déjà vu. Trump is 79 years old and public appearances are often delayed: he regularly asks for interview questions to be repeated.
The fact that rumors about Trump's health sometimes spread so quickly is partly due to the nature of the internet. As Tagesschau has analyzed, artificial intelligence-generated images that supposedly show the president in poor health are also on the rise. But even authentic images raise questions. Last July, the AP news agency reported on swollen ankles.
Trump's health fuels debate over successor
However, Trump's health is not only a personal challenge for him. He has long become the center of the Republican power structure in the United States and determines the political situation in the country. Moreover, since the beginning of his term, he has been a key player in global politics: not only in connection with the war in Ukraine and the situation of Israel in the Middle East, but also because of the impact of his tariffs. In 2025, it will become clear that the United States has not lost its global influence.
However, the camps in the US are changing, and even the gun lobby is positioning itself. As is Trump's successor. As the Tagesspiegel reports, something extraordinary happened while the US president was taking a media break: Vice President JD Vance gave an interview in which he praised his boss's "extremely good health". At the same time, he also spoke of "the best training on the job". It seems that the president's natural successor is already ready.
Trump's successor, Vance and Rubio in the game
For a long time, Donald Trump has avoided discussing a successor. Last summer, he nominated Vance and Secretary of State Rubio for the upcoming US election. In response to questions from reporters, he suggested that the two should run together for the Republican Party. As recently as February, he had described Vance as "very capable" but considered it too early to declare him the leading candidate.
According to Zeit, both politicians pose a risk: Trump could create a coalition with different Republican camps. It remains doubtful whether his potential successors will have the same power.
The two scenarios for Trump
Two scenarios are emerging for Trump: If his health remains stable, the legacy should continue unscathed. If health problems arise, uncertainty and internal strife within the Republican Party threaten, with obvious consequences for US domestic and foreign policy. That Trump may already be working on the first scenario is currently evident in the fact that Vance is attending the upcoming G20 summit.
"I'm not going," Trump said in the Oval Office. He had left the possibility of attending open in recent months due to political disagreements with the host country. However, this could also be Vance's next opportunity to represent his country on the international stage. The president faces a balancing act between his health and his political power. How he handles this remains crucial to the future direction of the Republican Party. / Adapted from Fr.de /
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