Overview
- Rep. Ted Lieu confronted Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing Wednesday and played multiple video clips that appear to show President Trump dozing at official events.
- Rubio repeatedly denied ever seeing the president fall asleep, said Trump rarely sleeps, and was accused on the record by Lieu of lying to Congress after the videos were shown.
- The White House has pointed to a recent Walter Reed exam and a medical summary from Capt. Sean Barbabella that says the president remains in excellent health and fully fit to serve.
- The administration pushed back on social media over interpretations of the clips while independent clinicians and some lawmakers said the footage and the president's recent Walter Reed visits, bruising and leg swelling warrant greater transparency or an independent evaluation.
- Coverage of the clash differs across outlets with many focusing on the public evidence shown in the hearing, others emphasizing the White House medical statement, and commentators warning the episode could prompt increased congressional oversight and affect foreign perceptions of U.S. leadership.