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'You absolute moron': White House defends Trump 'sleeping' at event
12 May 2026

The White House has defended President Donald Trump after he was seen apparently dozing off during an Oval Office event on maternal health.

The incident, which took place on Monday, sparked health concerns and went viral on social media.

In response to a post claiming that POTUS fell asleep at the event, the White House's Rapid Response replied, "He was blinking, you absolute moron."

'That was a very long blink'
Defense stance

Democratic Representative Ted Lieu also commented on the incident by sharing a video of Trump closing his eyes for 17 seconds.

"Dear @RapidResponse47: That is a verrrrrrrrryyyyy long blink," he replied.

Jimmy Gomez, another Democratic congressman, remarked, "This guy is asleep at the wheel, and he's about to drive the entire country off a cliff."

Trump's sleep cycle under scrutiny
Sleep analysis

Trump's sleep cycle has been a topic of discussion, especially after reports of his "unusual" social media activity hours.

The Daily Beast analyzed Trump's Truth Social posts and found irregular and short sleep patterns, which can cause daytime fatigue.

Experts warn that such sleep deprivation can impair judgment.

Despite these concerns, the White House maintains that Trump is fit for presidential duties.

Trump's history of public napping
Recurring issue

This isn't the first time Trump has faced scrutiny over his sleep patterns.

In April, he appeared to fall asleep during an Oval Office event on the Presidential Fitness Test. Similar incidents were reported in March and February as well.

When asked about his public sleeping habits earlier this year, Trump admitted he sometimes shuts his eyes but denied actually falling asleep.

Travel schedule impacts Trump's sleep
Travel impact

Trump's travel schedule is also a cause for concern when it comes to his sleep patterns.

CNN's Kaitlan Collins had previously revealed that Trump doesn't sleep much on trips, often keeping staff awake for conversations.

"I had this source who said, 'You never wanna be on Air Force One on a trip'," she said.

In the past, Trump had repeatedly criticized his predecessor Joe Biden for falling asleep at events, calling him "Sleepy Joe."