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

2025-09-01

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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 v...

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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