Overview
- Televised cameras captured the 79-year-old president intermittently closing his eyes during a lengthy Cabinet session, including extended moments while seated beside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected claims he nodded off, saying he was listening attentively and running a "three-hour marathon" meeting.
- The appearance came shortly after Trump declared "Trump is sharp" and said he was "sharper than I was 25 years ago" while disputing coverage of his energy and schedule.
- Clips spread widely on social media after a night in which Trump posted more than 150 times on Truth Social and resumed posting before dawn.
- The administration has emphasized Dr. Sean Barbabella’s memo describing October cardiovascular and abdominal MRI results as normal, while news reports and some health experts note such imaging does not assess sustained alertness or cognition.