Public health officials and physicians categorize causes of death by disease group. Below are the leading causes of death in the United States in 2023 (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):
Heart disease: 680,981
Cancer: 613,352
Accidents (unintentional injuries): 222,698
Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 162,639
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 145,357
Alzheimer’s disease: 114,034
Diabetes: 95,190
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 55,253
Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis: 52,222
COVID-19: 49,932
Based on risk factor analysis, many deaths are considered preventable:
Excess weight: 500,000 deaths (Harvard School of Public Health 2022)
Tobacco use: 490,000 deaths, including 19,000 due to second hand smoke (American Lung Association 2025)
Excessive alcohol consumption: 178,000 deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024)
COVID-19 deaths from vaccine refusal: 232,000 deaths (May 30, 2021 - September 3, 2022) (Harvard School of Public Health 2023).
Deaths Attributable to Donald J. Trump
In recent years, a new category of preventable deaths has emerged: those linked to public statements and policy decisions made by Donald J. Trump. This analysis excludes routine partisan policy effects (e.g., gun policy, healthcare access) and focuses on decisions or rhetoric distinctly attributable to Trump’s actions that are beyond the norm:
Confirmed and Estimated Deaths:
COVID-19 pandemic mismanagement: Over 200,000 preventable U.S. deaths, referenced above and here.
PEPFAR funding cuts: Estimated 60,000 adult and 6,000 childhood deaths outside the U.S. due to disruption of global HIV/AIDS treatment (PEPFAR funding).
Tuberculosis (TB) deaths: Over 26,000 deaths globally due to cuts to USAID TB programs.
January 6th, 2021 Capitol insurrection: 9 deaths.
Assuming Trump serves out the remaining 1331 days of his term, the deaths due to cutting funding for PEPFAR and TB are expected to increase dramatically.
Future causes of death due to Trump may include:
Deaths due to cuts in FEMA (disaster assistance).
Deaths due to the anti-vaccine disinformation of Trump and RFK Jr. regarding:
Deaths due to cuts for other staffing tasked to protect the American public.
Deaths due to cuts for researchers at the NIH and elsewhere whose work will prevent deaths.
This post will be updated as more data becomes available. I also welcome your comments to Nat@PathologyOutlines.com.
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also potential preventable deaths due to cuts to medicaid, women not being able to receive life saving medical care if a pregnancy goes wrong, and deaths related to gun violence, and illness leading to early death due to factors of poverty. The MAGA Murder Budget - which aligns nicely with the MAGA murder agenda. :( shameful.