Politico recently ran a headline about Donald Trump’s health that many would see as embarrassing journalism. The piece, titled “Trump denies he’s dead,” fed into speculation about the President’s appearance and condition, and it reflects a long-running double standard in how the press covers Republicans versus Democrats.
When Joe Biden was president, concerns about his age and health were widespread among voters. Polls routinely showed majorities doubting his physical and cognitive ability to serve a second term. Yet mainstream outlets rarely pressed the issue with any seriousness. Biden’s faltering debate performance in June 2024, his repeated gaffes, and visible frailty were often minimized or spun as “gaffes” or simply part of his personal style. The press consistently downplayed what millions of Americans could plainly see.
Fake Death Claim
With Trump, the tone has been very different. At one point in recent months, he appeared with visible bruising on his hand and swelling in his ankle, which fueled speculation online. Then, over Labor Day weekend, a separate hoax spread on social media falsely claiming he had died. The frenzy grew large enough that the White House had to address it.
Trump’s physician explained the matter clearly. The bruising was attributed to routine handshaking combined with daily aspirin use, while the ankle swelling was diagnosed as chronic venous insufficiency, a common but non-serious condition. Trump himself dismissed the coverage, calling it fake and another example of the press trying to discredit him.
The episode highlights the gap in how political figures are treated. Biden’s stumbles on the world stage were brushed aside as quirks of an aging politician. Trump’s minor medical issues, backed by a straightforward doctor’s report, were turned into sensational speculation. One side gets protection, the other gets mockery.
It is not difficult to see the political motivation. Stories that question Trump’s health play into a larger narrative opponents hope to push in 2028, such as concerns he is too old or unfit for office. Yet Biden, who faced sharper voter skepticism about his health, rarely faced aggressive media scrutiny on the same front.
What stands out most is not Trump’s condition, but the media’s eagerness to seize on it. A headline like Politico’s would never have appeared during Biden’s presidency, even after his debate stumble raised alarm among voters across the spectrum. Instead, outlets closed ranks and shifted the conversation. In Trump’s case, the opposite happened: rumor was amplified, speculation was treated as fact, and even absurd conspiracy theories gained traction.
For anyone paying attention, this latest incident confirms what we already know. The media does not play referee; it plays for the Democratic Party. Trump will be questioned relentlessly, while Democrats are shielded from the same level of scrutiny, especially Biden. The story is less about bruises and ankles and more about credibility. The headline may have been designed to score clicks, but it revealed something much larger about the media’s approach to covering presidents.