Concerns about Donald Trump's health have been reignited by reports that he has fallen asleep again during a crucial meeting in the Oval Office. The US president, 80, has come under increased scrutiny since his return to the White House following a series of public gaffes and apparent bruising and swelling.
President reportedly dozed off at 14 public events
The Republican leader has reportedly fallen asleep in public 14 times over the last 12 months, many of which were during public engagements. Some of the important appearances he has reportedly been spotted dozing off at include the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, the Antifa roundtable, an obesity-drug press conference, and signing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and Pope Francis' funeral.
On Wednesday (August 19), tensions flared up during a CNN broadcast as panellists clashed over the politician's sleeping habits. When one host insisted that Trump genuinely cares about Americans and soaring gas prices, host Dina Doll blasted him for "sleeping through literally every meeting".
CNN host blasts Trump over sleeping habits
She fumed: "He [Trump] said that gas prices are fine; that's actually not true that he's 'focused on the gas prices'. He sleeps through literally every meeting. We see it in real time."
Mr Trump was accused of dozing off during a Fox News live-streamed Oval Office event last Monday (August 10). Viewers watched as one woman appeared to be tasked with keeping the president awake and alert during the event.
White House dismisses health concerns
The White House has repeatedly dismissed claims that Trump's closed eyes during public appearances suggest he is nodding off or facing a health issue. Trump has previously told the press that he occasionally closes his eyes because he finds it soothing and has refuted claims that he actually sleeps during meetings.
According to official statements from his medical team and his own admissions, the politician consistently sleeps just four or five hours each night. He typically goes to bed somewhere between midnight and 1am and starts his day between 5 and 5.30am. This falls short of the three or four hours of sleep doctors recommend, given that healthy adults require seven to nine hours a night.
