Overview

• A viral video showed a crane operator apparently dozing off inside his machine during President Trump’s June 18 ceremony to unveil two new flagpoles at the White House.
• Social media users responded with both amusement and defense of the operator’s brief nap, noting the long idle periods typical in crane work.
• The operator momentarily woke when he spotted Trump positioned below, then resumed resting as the installation continued.
• During the event, Trump suggested the Russia-Ukraine war would never have happened under his presidency and described the conflict as “stupid.”
• The flagpole installation is the first step in planned renovations of the White House grounds, which may extend to paving over the Rose Garden.