Donald Trump’s strange zig-zag walk before his summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska has sparked online theories, with some suggesting health issues or even assassination fears. Read more about the reactions and speculations.
Donald Trump’s unusual zig-zag walk as he arrived for his summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, 2025, has left online users buzzing with speculation. As the two leaders prepared to discuss a ceasefire over Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, all eyes were on Trump’s odd movements on the red carpet.
The meeting was highly anticipated, with Trump boasting about bringing an offer “too good” to refuse. However, despite the tense talks and the promise of progress, no ceasefire agreement had been reached by the time of writing. Trump, who had warned of “very severe consequences” if the summit didn’t result in favorable outcomes, claimed that significant progress had been made.
While much of the focus was on the diplomatic discussions, some online commentators couldn’t stop talking about Trump’s unusual walk. The 79-year-old president appeared to struggle with walking in a straight line, veering left and right, which sparked a wave of theories regarding his health.
I’m only half joking here, but if I was almost assassinated twice, I’d probably walk in zig-zags for the rest of my life. https://t.co/gUs9AL352K
— John Ekdahl (@JohnEkdahl) August 16, 2025
One user on X (formerly Twitter) asked, “Can any doctors tell me why Trump is struggling to walk in a straight line?” While some attributed the strange walk to possible health issues, others ventured into more intriguing and darker speculations.
Some social media users suggested that Trump’s zig-zagging movement might be a result of past assassination attempts, referencing an incident during his campaign when he was shot in the ear. One commenter said, “If I were almost assassinated twice, I’d probably walk in zig-zags for the rest of my life.” Another theory suggested that the walk might be a reflex to avoid potential threats: “Zig-zag to avoid bullets hitting? Or out of nervousness?”
These theories only fueled the growing number of conspiracy theories surrounding the summit. Some speculated that Putin may have sent a body double to meet Trump, with the real Russian president staying out of sight. Body language expert Inbaal Honigman, however, dismissed this claim, saying that Putin’s “gunslinger gait” was still visible during the meeting with Trump.
Despite the buzz surrounding Trump’s walk and other theories about the summit, the main focus remains on the diplomatic discussions between the two powerful leaders. With no ceasefire in place yet, all eyes will remain on the next developments of this high-stakes meeting.
