Overview
- The president, during Monday’s televised roundtable at the Tennessee Air National Guard Base in Memphis, shut his eyes for roughly 30 seconds as others spoke.
- Clips from the event spread across X with posts by journalist Aaron Rupar drawing wide attention and fresh criticism focused on the president’s age.
- The White House rejects claims of health problems and points to prior physician reports describing him as in very good health, and no new medical update was released Tuesday.
- Cardiologist Jonathan Reiner told CNN that repeated on-camera drowsiness fits a pattern of increased daytime sleepiness and said sleep apnea is one possible cause without making a diagnosis.
- Similar episodes were reported in recent months, and Trump has said he only closed his eyes during long, boring meetings rather than falling asleep.