Trump’s weekend of 'humiliation' may be sign of things to come: analysis

U.S. President Donald Trump listens to a question during an event to announce that the Space Force Command will move from Colorado to Alabama, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 2, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

During Labor Day Weekend 2025, President Donald Trump was dogged by false rumors that he had died. Trump appeared at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, August 26, but after that, he kept an usually low profile.

The rumors were disproven by a photo that Trump ally John Fredericks posted on X, formerly Twitter; according to Fredericks, his wife Anne took the photo of Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia on Sunday, August 31 around 4 PM eastern time.

In an article published on September 3, Salon's Amanda Marcotte describes Labor Day Weekend as a time of "humiliation" for Trump and a possible sign of things to come.

Trump cites Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" from 1941 and Billy Wilder's "Sunset Boulevard" from 1950 as two of his favorites movies, along with Francis Ford Coppolla's "The Godfather" from 1972. And Marcotte draws a parallel between the Charles Foster Kane character in "Citizen Kane" and Trump.

"Last weekend," Marcotte argues, "as greatly exaggerated rumors of Trump's death flew around the internet…. there seemed to be an obvious link between Trump's fictional death and that of Charles Foster Kane: No one was sad about it. Liberals online were in a celebratory mood, documenting how the president hadn't been seen in public for days following recent appearances where he seemed more unwell than usual. But we also heard from Vice President JD Vance, who barely suppressed his glee in claiming, 'I can't think of better on-the-job training than what I've gotten over the last 200 days.'"

Marcotte continues, "It's a reminder that, if anything, those closest to Trump would also apparently feel mostly relief at his passing. They may back his authoritarian agenda, but surely would welcome the chance to never speak to or smell the man again."

The false rumors of Trump's death, Marcotte stresses, were quite "humiliating" for him.

"Alas, Trump is still alive," Marcotte observes, "but there is a consolation prize for those who were holding vigil: He and the White House reacted with over-the-top defensiveness, removing all doubt that the infamous narcissist was feeling deeply embarrassed by the gleeful speculation of his demise…. The president did not take well to his weekend of reminders that everybody hates him — at least anyone who sees him clearly."

Marcotte adds, "The zealots at his rallies don’t count, as they seem to deliberately avoid all evidence of his true character, relating only to a silly fantasy sold by right-wing propagandists like Fox News."

According to Marcotte, Trump's "repeated humiliations" over Labor Day Weekend "offer some hope" to his opponents.

"His efforts to be a terrifying figure are routinely undercut by his clownishness," Marcotte argues. "The more he tries to appear mighty, the more he seems increasingly frail in his rapidly aging body. The goal of fascist leaders is to scare people into submission by seeming invulnerable and all-powerful. But as more people dunk on Trump and mock him for looking weak and old, it becomes harder for him to pull that off — especially if he keeps on lashing out."

Amanda Marcotte's full article for Salon is available at this link.