‘Perfect Health’ Claim Shaken By Footage of Trump Struggling to Stay Alert
A televised Cabinet meeting on Tuesday sparked new scrutiny of President Trump’s stamina after cameras captured several moments where the 79-year-old appeared to nod off during the three-hour session.
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Footage from the meeting showed Trump repeatedly leaning back in his chair with his eyes drooping. In one clip, he briefly closed his eyes as a Cabinet secretary delivered an update. The moments quickly circulated online, drawing criticism and renewed debate over Trump’s energy level as he enters the second year of his term.
The White House pushed back on claims that Trump was struggling to stay awake. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president was “listening attentively and running the entire three-hour marathon Cabinet meeting,” calling the online reaction “politically motivated noise.”
Trump also defended himself afterward, pointing to what he described as a recent “perfect physical exam and cognitive test.” He has repeatedly dismissed concerns about his age and health, saying he is in “tremendous shape.”
Still, the images from the Cabinet room fueled questions that have followed Trump for months. At 79, he is the oldest sitting president in U.S. history, and public appearances showing signs of fatigue have drawn heightened attention from both critics and medical observers.
The Cabinet meeting was Trump’s first long on-camera appearance in almost a month since his overseas trip. With weeks of recovery time already passed, the White House did not clarify why Trump might still appear tired, focusing instead on his “leadership” during the meeting.
The incident adds to the ongoing debate over the president’s stamina, a topic likely to remain front and center as Trump prepares for a demanding year of governing, travel, and political pressure.