Americanswers…on 5 Live! Why did the internet think Trump was dead?

Sep 1, 2025

Matt Chorley, a presenter on 5 Live, joins Marianna Spring and Sumi Somaskanda to dissect the bizarre social media frenzy surrounding rumors of Donald Trump's death. They explore how false claims start and their impact on public perception. The firing of CDC Chief Dr. Susan Monarez also sparks a discussion on health policy discontent. Additionally, they analyze how Trump's tariffs may be shifting India's alliances toward Russia and China, especially with PM Modi's recent visit after seven years.

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INSIGHT

How Small Visual Clues Spark Death Rumours

Social media rapidly amplifies minor physical signs and absence to create death conspiracies about leaders.
Marianna Spring shows photos, makeup claims and hand-bruising drove unfounded rumours about Trump being dead.

ANECDOTE

The Pentagon Pizza Index Story

The so-called Pentagon Pizza Index tracks surges in pizza orders to infer crises in Washington.
Marianna recounts people using the pizza data to speculate a major incident involving Trump.

INSIGHT

What A Vance Presidency Would Look Like

If Trump were replaced by J.D. Vance, core 'America First' policies would likely continue.
Sumi Somaskanda explains Vance would keep tariffs and take a tougher stance on Ukraine and tech preeminence.

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Over the weekend rumours were swirling on social media that the president was dead.

Marianna and Sumi join Matt Chorley on 5 Live to look at how the unfounded claims were sparked.

And the US Centre for Disease Control Chief, Dr Susan Monarez was fired last week. The White House said it was because she was “not aligned with the president's agenda". The decision prompted other leading figures at the agency to resign over frustrations about Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's leadership and vaccine policy. Matt, Marianna and Sumi unpack the fallout.

And we look at whether Donald Trump’s tariffs are pushing India closer to Russia and China, as leaders of the three countries got together at a summit hosted in Tianjin. It was the Indian PM Narendra Modi’s first time in China in seven years.

HOSTS: • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent • Sumi Somaskanda, Chief Anchor for BBC News

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This episode was made by Rufus Gray and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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