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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump says he was aware of concerns about his health over the weekend but hadn't realized how dire the speculation had become.

Trump's public absence fueled online speculation about his health. His last public event was on Aug. 26, when he led a three-hour televised Cabinet meeting.

"And then I didn't do any (news conferences) for two days, and they said, 'There must be something wrong with him.' Biden wouldn't do them for months, you wouldn't see him, and nobody ever said there was ever anything wrong with him, and we know he wasn't in the greatest of shape," Trump said on Sept. 2 at an Oval Office press conference after being asked about the online speculation the following week.

Trump says he has been 'very active' since last in-person appearance

The president participated in a sit-down, off-camera interview with The Daily Caller on Aug. 29 that lasted nearly an hour and visited his golf course, in Sterling, Virginia, three times over the Labor Day weekend. He did not interact with the press on any of the outings.

He also shared statements on Truth Social about tariffs and redistricting.

"I've been very active over the weekend," Trump said.

He told reporters on Tuesday he'd heard about concerns he could be ill but did not realize how aggressive the swirl had become.

"It's also sort of a longer weekend," he said. "I was very active this Labor Day."

Ahead of his new conference in the Oval Office, Trump spoke to conservative pundit Scott Jennings, who hosts a radio show on the Salem Radio Network.

Vance had said Trump was in 'incredibly good health'

Vice President JD Vance told USA TODAY that Trump was in "incredibly good health" and had "incredible energy" in an Aug. 27 interview.

"I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people," Vance said.

Trump is the oldest person to be inaugurated as president of the United States. He was 78 when he took office for his second term.

Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common vein condition, the White House said in July, after photos showed visible swelling in his legs and bruising on his right hand.

White House physician Sean Barbabella described the condition in a memo as "benign and common." He said the marks on his hand were "consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking."

Former President Joe Biden, who was previously the oldest president to be inaugurated, continues to face scrutiny over his health while in office. He dropped his bid for re-election after a disastrous performance during a debate with Trump prompted questions about his mental acuity and fitness for office.

Contributing: Kinsey Crowley, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'I was very active over the weekend:' Trump addresses online speculation about his health

Reporting by Francesca Chambers and Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect