Rumours circulate that the President

[Bassim]

Have I made any mistakes?

Rumours circulate that the President wanted to resign but was persuaded by his wife not to. Allegedly, she told him that she couldn't bear the disgrace of suddenly not being called the first lady anymore.

 

[jutfrank]

Did you really mean to use the present tense for the main verb in the first sentence?

 

[Bassim]

Yes. I used the present tense intentionally because I imagined that those rumours still circulate. Was that wrong? Should I have used the past instead?

 

[jutfrank]

Okay, then the present tense is fine but it sounds odd to use the present simple there. I'd expect the present continuous.