United States President Donald Trump sparked a new wave of online ridicule after cameras caught him appearing to drift off during an extended Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, prompting social media users to dub him the “Commander in Sleep.”
Witnesses said the 79-year-old President’s eyes began to droop roughly an hour and a half into the more than two-hour session. As Cabinet officials highlighted their first-year achievements, Trump’s focus seemed to fade, with one journalist commenting that he looked “unconscious” during Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s remarks.
It is the third time in recent weeks that Trump has been accused of nodding off during official events, adding to trending labels such as “Dozy Don.”
In response to the circulating images, the White House swiftly dismissed any suggestion that the President was tired. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Daily Mail that Trump had been “listening attentively” and was “running the entire three-hour marathon Cabinet meeting.”
The moment comes as scrutiny over Trump’s health intensifies. After calls from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the White House released MRI results described as “perfectly normal.” Earlier in the day, Trump defended his stamina, saying he faced a media “double standard” when compared with coverage of President Biden’s health.
“I think I’m sharper than I was 25 years ago,” Trump told reporters, calling members of the press “intelligent lunatics.”
The meeting itself featured strong rhetoric, including sharp comments from Trump about Somali migrants and Representative Ilhan Omar, whom he labeled “garbage” and said should “go back to where they came from.” While the White House praised what it called his “amazing final answer” on the issue, the widely shared photo of Trump with his eyes closed dominated the day’s discussion online.
