In a moment of striking irony, President Donald Trump seemed to nod off during a marathon televised Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, just minutes after vehemently defending his mental sharpness and criticising media reports on his stamina.
The 'Sleepy' Spectacle Unfolds
The lengthy meeting, which had run for over an hour at the time of reporting, saw the US President's top team take turns offering effusive praise about his leadership. However, Trump, who is 79, appeared far from engaged. His eyes repeatedly drooped shut and he was frequently seen leaning forward, as if on the verge of falling asleep at the Cabinet table. At other points, he rested his head on his hand with his eyes closed.
This somnambulant display was particularly notable given Trump's history of branding his predecessor, Joe Biden, as "Sleepy Joe." The incident adds to a growing list of occasions where the President has appeared drowsy during official events, many of which are live-streamed by the White House.
A Defiant Pre-Nap Declaration
Earlier in the same meeting, Trump had launched into a fierce complaint about press coverage questioning his physical and mental condition. Slipping into the third person, he insisted, "Trump is sharp" and criticised a recent New York Times report detailing his schedule and stamina.
He had previously attacked the story on social media, going so far as to personally insult the reporter involved, calling them "ugly inside and out." Addressing journalists present in the Cabinet Room, Trump declared, "You people are crazy. I'll let you know if there's something wrong."
Controversial Figures and Lingering Scandals
The meeting also drew attention due to the presence of Pete Hegseth, referred to as the Secretary of War, who sat beside the President. Notably, his nameplate contained a typo, reading "sSecretary of War." Hegseth's role is under increased scrutiny as the Pentagon faces bipartisan questions over a controversial military strike in the Caribbean Sea in September. The follow-up attack on an already damaged alleged drug boat is said to have killed two survivors.
This Cabinet gathering followed separate cultural controversy. Pop singer Sabrina Carpenter publicly slammed the Trump administration for using her song "Juno" to soundtrack a video montage depicting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Carpenter tweeted that the video was "evil and disgusting," and demanded her music not be used to benefit what she called an "inhumane agenda." The White House had ironically quoted her lyrics, "Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye," in the caption for the clip.
The juxtaposition of Trump's defiant proclamation of sharpness with his apparent struggle to stay awake presents a vivid and politically charged image, likely to fuel further debate about his fitness for office as his administration contends with multiple fronts of criticism.
