A rumor began circulating on Saturday, April 4, that the 79-year-old president had been taken to Walter Reed Medical Center

NEED TO KNOW

• The White House responded to social media rumors that Donald Trump was hospitalized
• White House communications director Steven Cheung wrote on X that Trump “has been working nonstop in the White House and Oval Office”
• The rumors stemmed in part from unverified social media posts about possible road closures and flight restrictions near Walter Reed Medical Center on Saturday, April 4

The White House has responded to reports that Donald Trump has been hospitalized.

Amid online speculation that the president, 79, was being treated at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., on Saturday, April 4, a spokesperson for the White House referred PEOPLE to an X post from White House communications director Steven Cheung.

In the post, Cheung, 43, wrote, "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," he added.

The White House also addressed the speculation on X via its Rapid Response 47 account.

“Deranged liberals cook up insane conspiracy theories when @POTUS goes 12 hours without speaking to press. (They said nothing when Biden routinely went 12 days without speaking to press),” the post read.

“Fear not! President Trump literally never stops working,” the post added.

Earlier in the day, CBS News White House correspondent Emma Nicholson had posted on X, “A Marine sentry is standing at the door of the West Wing as of 1:50pm, indicating the president is working inside.”

According to the White House online archives, a single U.S. Marine stands guard outside the north entrance of the White House when the president is working in the West Wing.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Amid the speculation about his health, Trump has been active on Truth Social.

“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” he wrote on the platform on Saturday morning. “Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Later in the day, he posted, "If you import The Third World, you become The Third World!’ – AND THAT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS LONG AS I AM PRESIDENT. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”

The initial speculation about Trump’s whereabouts began Saturday morning, when a number of social media users posted that there appeared to be road closures, as well as potential flight restrictions in the air over Walter Reed Medical Center, the primary medical facility designated for presidential care.

Neither the road closures nor potential flight restrictions were officially verified.

Source link