Former President Donald Trump’s TruthSocial account has stirred controversy by sharing a video promoting the medbed conspiracy theory. The video featured a fabricated segment from Fox News’ “My View with Lara Trump,” where Lara Trump discusses alleged new medical treatments available at hospitals.
In the video, which seemed to utilize AI-generated voices, there was mention of a “medbed card” that U.S. citizens could use to access treatments at these purported new medical facilities. Trump, in an unusually composed manner, described these facilities as safe, modern, and capable of restoring citizens to full health and vitality. However, there is no evidence supporting the claims made by conspiracy theorists regarding the capabilities of medbeds.
The appearance of a medbed card resembling those seen in Facebook advertisements raised suspicions. Fox News clarified that the video did not air on their network and was not part of Lara Trump’s show. The medbed conspiracy theory suggests the existence of medical beds with miraculous healing abilities, including the reversal of aging and regeneration of lost limbs, a belief predominantly circulated on fringe online platforms.
Questions arose as to why the video was shared on Trump’s official TruthSocial account and whether the account had been compromised. Despite garnering over 10,800 likes and 4,140 reposts from Trump’s massive following, the video drew criticism. Senior researcher Alex Kaplan highlighted Trump’s propagation of false health claims, particularly the recent controversial remarks on Tylenol and autism.
Trump had earlier discouraged pregnant women from taking Tylenol, alleging a connection to autism without scientific basis. Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, refuted these claims, asserting the safety of the drug for expectant mothers. Trump’s statements on health matters, including vaccines and medication, have faced backlash, with critics warning against spreading misinformation that could harm public health.
The controversy surrounding Trump’s promotion of unverified health theories underscores ongoing concerns about the influence of misinformation and its potential impact on public health discourse.
