Donald Trump ‘falls asleep’ in Oval Office as White House claims he was ‘solely blinking’
Donald Trump has been labelled ‘unfit to serve’ after video footage appeared to show the President falling asleep during a formal health briefing in the Oval Office
Donald Trump has been branded “unfit to serve” after being accused of nodding off during an Oval Office briefing. Explosive video footage appears to show the US President with his eyes clamped shut and barely moving as officials discussed health data.
The clip has sparked a firestorm online, with critics claiming the Commander-in-Chief drifted off into a deep slumber right under the noses of the press. The supposed power nap occurred while Dorothy Fink, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health, was delivering statistics on maternal mortality.
While Dr. Fink highlighted how the Perinatal Improvement Collaborative hospitals slashed maternal mortality by 41.5 per cent, viewers on social media were far more concerned with Trump’s stationary slumped posture.
The Mirror reports that the internet was quick to stick the boot in, with one user writing: “Trump is about to hit REM sleep on camera in the Oval Office.”
Another worried viewer posted: “Trump fell asleep with his face drooping in the Oval Office during a meeting today. This is a real video that should concern every American. He’s not fit to serve.”
A third critic said: “Trump appears to fall asleep while a doctor discusses maternal mortality.” Meanwhile, a fourth observer pointed out the frequency of the President’s apparent naps.
They added: “Today is Monday. That means Trump falls asleep at yet another high profile event with cameras rolling. Imagine what happens when there are no cameras.”
The White House has since swung into damage control mode. In a fiery rebuttal, the official White House Rapid Response account lashed out at the claims.
Defending the President’s heavy eyelids, they said “He was blinking, you absolute moron.” However, sceptics have pointed out that the footage doesn’t seem to show any actual blinking, leaving the debate raging on.
The nap drama comes at a time of high global tension. Trump recently asserted that the month-long ceasefire between the US and Iran is on “massive life support.”
Addressing the press on Monday, he dismissed the fragile peace as “unbelievably weak,” despite the fact that the guns have remained silent.
Iran has since presented a counter-proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Trump was having none of it. The President bit back at the offer, calling it “totally unacceptable” and a “piece of garbage.”
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei countered the outburst, insisting Tehran’s proposals were both “responsible” and “generous.”
The Iranian proposal reportedly includes an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, a halt to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and assurances against any further attacks on Iranian territory.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
