Donald Trump has been labelled “Dozy Don” by California Governor Gavin Newsom after the president appeared to fall asleep during an Oval Office meeting on obesity and sleep. The 79-year-old was seen with his eyes closed at several points during the televised event, where his government announced lower prices for weight loss drugs for Medicare and Medicaid recipients.
Dr Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said: “People can sleep again, because they can breathe when they go to bed.” Meanwhile, Trump leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, prompting Newsom to post on social media: “Dozy Don is back!”
During the event, a man standing behind the president stumbled and collapsed, apparently fainting. Newsom previously used the “Dozy Don” nickname after Trump appeared to fall asleep during a widely criticised “Antifa roundtable” last month. The jibe echoes Trump’s own nickname for Joe Biden, “Sleepy Joe”.
Trump, who became the oldest president ever sworn in at 78, has been caught apparently dozing on several occasions, including during an energy event in July and during his hush money trial last year. Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert defended him, suggesting he might have been praying, adding: “But if he is sleeping, he certainly looks pretty while he sleeps.”
Trump has previously claimed he needs only three to four hours of sleep, telling supporters: “I toss, I turn, I beep-de-beep, I want to find out what’s going on.” Attorney General Pam Bondi said none of the White House team “can keep up with him”, adding: “I don’t know how he does it.” Last month, Trump underwent an MRI scan, which he described as “perfect”.
