President Donald Trump is once again facing accusations of falling asleep, after appearing to close his eyes during an announcement at the White House on Monday. The president’s eyes appeared to flutter and close several times while he sat at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. He was surrounded by Cabinet members and health care executives during an announcement on medicine affordability.
Trump announced that nearly a dozen pharmaceutical manufacturers have agreed to lower the price of their medications to match their prices outside the U.S. But one clip posted by multiple users, including MeidasTouch.com digital editor @Acyn, shows Trump leaning forward slightly and appearing to close his eyes before suddenly opening them again while Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. addressed reporters in the room. Video from the event quickly circulated on social media, Democrats sharing one clip on Facebook with the caption: "Old man falls asleep during afternoon meeting." To be fair to the president, not all meetings can command 100 per cent engagement, and perhaps the accusations sometimes have more to do with the nature of the event in question.
In this case, it is the second time Trump has been accused of falling asleep during a lengthy Oval Office health care meeting, which is documented further down in this article. The White House has repeatedly dismissed suggestions that instances of the 80-year-old president with his eyes apparently closed during public appearance indicate he is asleep or experiencing health issues, saying images or brief video clips show him blinking, resting his eyes or listening intently. Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment via an email sent outside regular business hours.
The press and the public may at times seem too quick to point out when a public figure appears to be dozing at an important event, but in Trump's case there seems a genuine justification for doing so. Trump repeatedly attacked former Democratic President Joe Biden as "Sleepy Joe" as he questioned Biden’s fitness for office. Biden ultimately dropped his bid for reelection in 2024 and left office at the age of 82 amid widespread concerns about his age and mental fitness.
Trump has sought to contrast himself with Biden by repeatedly touting the results of his cognitive tests, citing them as evidence of his mental sharpness. But concerns about Trump’s age and health have also shaped his second term as president, including instances when he has appeared tired or inattentive during public appearances, leading to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office dubbing him "Dozy Don." White House aides have dismissed questions about the president’s age or fitness, with spokesman Davis Ingle telling Newsweek in June that Trump "is the sharpest and most accessible President in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises, and he remains in excellent health." Here is a timeline of some of the most prominent instances when the president has been accused of falling asleep during public appearances in his second term. One of the earliest instances in his second term where Trump faced accusations of falling asleep during a public event was during Pope Francis’ funeral in April 2025.
To many, it seems unjust when public figures are accused of falling asleep at funerals when many attendees are seen closing their eyes in reflection or prayer. Some photos from the funeral caused speculation on social media because they appeared to show the president with his eyes closed. But a fact check by Snopes found the images did not definitively prove the president fell asleep during the event.
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