US President Donald Trump faced renewed scrutiny over his stamina and capacity for office after video from a White House cabinet meeting on 2 December 2025 went viral, showing the 79-year-old apparently struggling to stay awake. The footage — aired live and later widely shared — captured moments in which Trump closed his eyes and appeared drowsy while members of his cabinet offered praise and laid out their departments’ recent accomplishments.
The meeting, held in the Cabinet Room of the West Wing, was intended to spotlight what officials described as the achievements of Trump’s second term. As different secretaries spoke, the president, seated at the centre of the long table, was shown on camera at times slumping in his chair, his gaze drifting downward. In one of the most replayed clips, during remarks from the commerce secretary, Trump’s eyes seemed to close for several seconds before he shifted forward and resumed what appeared to be a more attentive posture.
Social media reaction was swift. On X and other platforms, users zeroed in on the imagery — slow motion replays and zoom-ins emphasised the moments where Trump’s eyes closed, or his head dipped. One post accompanying a video clip dubbed him “commander in sleep,” a play on his formal title of commander in chief. Others echoed the jibe, suggesting the president was literally asleep as his cabinet praised him.
Not all who watched saw the scene the same way. Some supporters argued that Trump may simply have been looking down at notes, listening with his eyes shut, or resting briefly in a room flooded with bright lights. No close-up audio or other evidence confirmed any snoring or audible sleep. The broadcast’s fixed camera angle left ambiguity: while Trump’s eyes were closed, it could not be established whether he was disengaged or merely concentrating behind closed lids.