Americanswers…on 5 Live! Why did the internet think Trump was dead?
Americast
BBC
4.2 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 1 September 2025
⏱️ 26 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:05.0 | Hello, welcome to another instalment of our Monday Q&A, American Answers. |
| 0:09.8 | I've just come off Five Live with Matt Chorley. |
| 0:12.2 | There is sadly no Justin, Sarah or Anthony today. |
| 0:14.9 | They are deservedly on holiday and away. |
| 0:17.9 | But luckily, a very good friend of the podcast, Sumi Somerscanda, |
| 0:21.3 | was with me to talk about a whole range of different things. We chatted about those rumors, |
| 0:26.5 | unfounded conspiracy theories that Donald Trump is dead. Do you know about the pizza index? |
| 0:31.0 | Well, soon you will. We spoke about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his role in reshaping the |
| 0:36.4 | US National Public Health Agency. |
| 0:38.5 | There's a bit on tariffs, too, Trump's tariffs and India and Russia and China. And what are the |
| 0:43.1 | Democrats up to or not up to? Welcome to America Answers. |
| 0:49.8 | AmeriCast. Americaast from BBC News. You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III. |
| 0:58.0 | President Trump's message is very simple. We are done being taken advantage of. |
| 1:01.8 | Mr. President, in the name of our God, have mercy upon the people. We're scared now. |
| 1:07.4 | Are you supportive of these onesies? I'm supportive of vaccines. |
| 1:10.9 | What is happening? |
| 1:12.0 | Like, this is not America. |
| 1:13.8 | This is a terrible nightmare. |
| 1:15.3 | This is what victory feels like. |
| 1:18.7 | Yeah. |
| 1:19.1 | And we'll start with, I think this feels like something which is in your wheelhouse, Mariana. |
... |
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