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Monday, Dec 08, 2025
Outside the box.
Social Media Erupts Over Images of President Trump Appearing to Doze During Oval Office Event
Footage of the president with closed eyes at a drug-price announcement draws renewed scrutiny of his stamina and health
Images of President Donald Trump closing his eyes during an Oval Office event on November 6, 2025 spread across social media over the weekend, sparking fresh questions about his on-the-job performance.
The gathering, at which he announced a major reduction in prices for weight-loss drugs from major manufacturers, featured him seated behind the Resolute Desk alongside senior officials from health agencies.
At multiple moments, Mr Trump appeared to slump, touch his face and close his eyes while the announcement proceeded.
One attendee later fainted behind him, momentarily halting the event and drawing additional attention to the optics of the moment.
The White House has issued a statement from Press Secretary Taylor Rogers asserting the president “was not sleeping; in fact, he spoke throughout and took many questions from the press.”
Despite the administration’s reassurances, critics—and some Democratic leaders—seized on the photos and video clips to renew concerns about Mr Trump’s fitness for office.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office renamed the president “The Nodfather”, posting images of his closed-eye posture in a stylised format.
Supporters of the president pushed back against what they described as media bias.
White House aides emphasized Mr Trump’s rigorous travel schedule, including a visit to Miami the day before and a three-nation Asian tour earlier in the year, as evidence of his stamina at age 79. They also highlighted his record number of calls and engagements since taking office.
The incident comes amid existing scrutiny of the president’s health.
In October the White House revealed he had undergone an MRI and was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition affecting circulation in the legs.
Mr Trump frequently attacked his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, as “Sleepy Joe”.
Democrats responded that the latest images revealed the inconsistency in his own messaging.
With mid-November’s budget-funding deadline approaching and the markets sensitive to leadership stability, both sides are now debating whether the optics around a single photograph carry broader implications for the presidency’s public presentation and confidence among allies.
For its part, the White House said the focus should return to the drug-price announcement, which the administration characterised as a “historic reduction in prices for Americans” that will save substantial sums and improve access to treatment for diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Meanwhile, observers will be watching how the president’s next public appearance is managed—and whether further posture issues arise ahead of upcoming policy announcements.
The gathering, at which he announced a major reduction in prices for weight-loss drugs from major manufacturers, featured him seated behind the Resolute Desk alongside senior officials from health agencies.
At multiple moments, Mr Trump appeared to slump, touch his face and close his eyes while the announcement proceeded.
One attendee later fainted behind him, momentarily halting the event and drawing additional attention to the optics of the moment.
The White House has issued a statement from Press Secretary Taylor Rogers asserting the president “was not sleeping; in fact, he spoke throughout and took many questions from the press.”
Despite the administration’s reassurances, critics—and some Democratic leaders—seized on the photos and video clips to renew concerns about Mr Trump’s fitness for office.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office renamed the president “The Nodfather”, posting images of his closed-eye posture in a stylised format.
Supporters of the president pushed back against what they described as media bias.
White House aides emphasized Mr Trump’s rigorous travel schedule, including a visit to Miami the day before and a three-nation Asian tour earlier in the year, as evidence of his stamina at age 79. They also highlighted his record number of calls and engagements since taking office.
The incident comes amid existing scrutiny of the president’s health.
In October the White House revealed he had undergone an MRI and was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition affecting circulation in the legs.
Mr Trump frequently attacked his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, as “Sleepy Joe”.
Democrats responded that the latest images revealed the inconsistency in his own messaging.
With mid-November’s budget-funding deadline approaching and the markets sensitive to leadership stability, both sides are now debating whether the optics around a single photograph carry broader implications for the presidency’s public presentation and confidence among allies.
For its part, the White House said the focus should return to the drug-price announcement, which the administration characterised as a “historic reduction in prices for Americans” that will save substantial sums and improve access to treatment for diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Meanwhile, observers will be watching how the president’s next public appearance is managed—and whether further posture issues arise ahead of upcoming policy announcements.
