Marco Rubio (left), Donald Trump during cabinet meeting
Gavin Newsom on Wednesday shared a video from US President Donald Trump’s December 2 cabinet meeting, claiming the 79-year-old leader appeared to nod off as senior officials briefed him on key issues, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict.In the clip circulated by the California governor, Trump can be seen sitting with his eyes narrowed and at times fully shut while his secretary of state speaks beside him about how “he is the only leader who can help end” Russia-Ukraine war. News portal People also reported that during the three-hour meeting, the president appeared to close his eyes for several seconds, including during commerce secretary Howard Lutnick’s remarks, before leaning forward again.The visuals drew attention as Trump had posted more than 160 times on Truth Social the previous night between 7pm (local time) and midnight and was active again before 6am People reported this alongside past observations highlighted by The New York Times about Trump’s reduced public schedule and moments when “his battery shows signs of wear,” as noted in a recent NYT report.The White House rejected suggestions that the president had dozed off. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to People: “President Trump was listening attentively and running the entire three-hour marathon cabinet meeting,” before reiterating a new administration line regarding Somali immigrants in Minnesota. She added: “Just go back and watch his amazing final answer in the press conference… This epic moment put an exclamation point on President Trump’s ninth Cabinet meeting of his second term.”Last year, Trump similarly pushed back on reports that he had fallen asleep during his New York criminal trial, after multiple courtroom accounts – including one from The New York Times – described him with “his mouth going slack and his head drooping onto his chest.” He dismissed those descriptions, writing: “Contrary to the FAKE NEWS MEDIA, I don’t fall asleep during the Crooked DA’s Witch Hunt… I simply close my beautiful blue eyes, sometimes, listen intensely, and take it ALL in!!!”Trump has often mocked former president Joe Biden as “Sleepy Joe,” and last month criticised Biden again while images of Trump with closed eyes during an Oval Office announcement went viral. “He sleeps all the time… I’m not a sleeper,” Trump said at the time, while meeting Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.Amid questions about age and stamina, Trump recently pointed to a “PERFECT PHYSICAL EXAM AND A COMPREHENSIVE COGNITIVE TEST (‘That was aced’)” which he said he had taken recently, responding to NYT reporting on his routine.
