President Donald Trump is due to hold a news conference today at the White House following his claim that the U.S. military carried out a high‑risk rescue mission of a wounded American pilot deep inside Iran.
The planned appearance comes after a weekend of online speculation about the president’s whereabouts and health, fueled by his absence from public view and a series of incendiary social media posts directed at Iran.
Newsweek contacted the White House via email and online form on Monday for comment.
Why It Matters
The White House has spent days pushing back against viral claims that Trump had been hospitalized, casting his absence instead as the result of his involvement in what officials describe as a daring military rescue operation.
The speculation intensified after Trump posted an expletive‑laden message over the weekend to his Truth Social account, threatening Iranian infrastructure, prompting questions about both the circumstances surrounding the alleged rescue mission and the president’s condition.
What to Know
On Sunday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that U.S. forces had rescued a “seriously wounded, and really brave” F‑15 crew member, identified as a highly respected U.S. Air Force colonel, from mountainous terrain inside Iran.
According to Trump, the operation involved two separate raids, including one carried out in broad daylight that required U.S. aircraft to remain over Iranian territory for seven hours.
“This type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to ‘man and equipment,’” Trump wrote. “It just doesn’t happen!”
Roughly an hour later, Trump posted again, threatening Iranian power plants and bridges and warning Tehran to “Open the Fuckin’ Strait,” ending the post with: “Praise be to Allah,” which raised alarm, as reported by Newsweek.
Following those posts, it was noted that Trump had not been seen publicly for several days. On X, journalist Aaron Rupar noted that the president had not appeared since a prime-time speech the previous Wednesday. Other accounts went further, claiming without evidence that Trump had been admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.
The White House’s Rapid Response account forcefully denied the claims, saying Trump had been “commanding one of the most daring rescue operations in modern history.” It issued similarly aggressive replies to other journalists and commentators speculating on Trump’s absence.
White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung later wrote that Trump had been focused on ensuring that “America leaves no warfighter behind.”
On Sunday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on X that Trump that would hold a news conference with military officials at 1 p.m. ET on Monday.
How and When to Watch Trump’s Press Conference
The White House says Trump’s news conference will take place at 1 p.m. ET in the White House Briefing Room, rather than the Oval Office. The event is expected to be carried live by major U.S. television networks.
What People Are Saying
Donald Trump Jr, on X referring to online speculation about Trump’s rumored hospitalization: “Sick people.”
Donald Trump, on Truth Social: “WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History…who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!”
Steven Cheung, White House Director of Communications, on X: “America leaves no warfighter behind! And to those reporters who were disgustingly questioning the President’s whereabouts today, this is what he was working on.”
What Happens Next
Trump is expected to offer additional details about the operation during Monday’s briefing, potentially alongside senior military officials.
Questions are also likely to focus on the scope of U.S. military activity inside Iran, the status of tensions with Tehran following Trump’s threats, and why the White House chose not to address the health rumors more directly as they spread online.