White House issues scathing response after Trump was seen ‘passed out’ in chair during meeting

Following viral video footage that seemed to show President Donald Trump slouching in his chair and possibly dozing off during a widely reported discussion in the Oval Office, the White House was forced to scramble to control the narrative on Monday.

A major component of Trump’s domestic health program, the discussion was televised live on multiple major networks and was intended to highlight the administration’s new initiative to lower the cost of weight loss drugs.

Rather, it turned into the most recent flashpoint in a week full of awkward headlines for the government.

The video, which was shot from a variety of perspectives by press pool cameras, shows Trump seated behind the Resolute Desk while Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mehmet Oz goes over the costs of GLP-1 drugs.

Trump’s head rests on the back of his chair and his eyes seem to be closed for a long time as Oz talks.

An aide tilts slightly in his direction at one point, but Trump doesn’t move for a few seconds, leading many to believe he’s fallen asleep.

The social media response was swift and harsh.

Given Trump’s lengthy history of making fun of Joe Biden’s age and level of energy by calling him “Sleepy Joe,” critics and late-night hosts quickly recognized the irony of the situation.

California Governor Gavin Newsom joined the #DozyDon and #NapGate trend on X within hours, posting: “DOZY DON IS BACK.”

A flurry of memes equating the two presidents were also sparked by the clip, with some calling Trump “the new Sleepy Joe.”

Many pundits highlighted Trump’s age of 79 to emphasize the changing political scene, pointing out that he is only marginally older than Biden was when he first took office in 2021.

The administration’s attempt to present Trump as active and mentally adroit ahead of what many anticipate to be another taxing election year ran the risk of being undermined by the image of an elderly leader seeming to lose focus during a televised meeting.

The White House retaliated swiftly.

In a scathing reply provided to CNN, a spokeswoman disputed that Trump had dozed off and referred to the article as “garbage.”

The statement said, “The President was not sleeping.”

“He asked questions, shared his thoughts, and spoke throughout the meeting about the new pricing initiative that will help millions of Americans who suffer from diabetes, obesity, and related conditions save a historic amount of money.”

If implemented, the new proposal will lower the monthly cost of injectable GLP-1 weight reduction medications to $249 and oral GLP-1 weight loss medications to $149, officials stressed.

The statement went on to say, “This is about saving lives and cutting costs.”

“However, rather than covering policy, the liberal media would rather spread misleading narratives about optics.”

Officials merely reiterated that Trump “remained fully engaged throughout” when asked why the president’s eyes were closed for such a long period of time.

The president was “deep in thought” and had briefly closed his eyes as he “listened carefully” to Dr. Oz’s presentation, according to sources within the West Wing who spoke to CNN.

The debate could hardly have come at a worse time.

A few days prior, a pharmaceutical executive was claimed to have passed out during a briefing, which caused another Oval Office event to take an unexpected turn.

Trump was seen standing apart with a neutral expression on camera as officials hurried to the man’s rescue.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, was also seen rushing out of view.

The executive received on-site treatment and has since fully recovered, Dr. Oz later told reporters.

But the event sparked more discussion about the peculiar relationship between Trump and his team.

An anonymous senior adviser said, “It’s been one of the more chaotic weeks inside this administration.”

“None of it is the image they want—first the fainting, now the sleeping.”

Trump supporters said that the president has remained focused despite the internet hysteria.

Later that night, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Fake News Media strikes again! I was listening, not asleep. For once, perhaps some of these so-called journalists need to give that a shot.

Nevertheless, the incident brought to light the delicate balance Trump must strike as an aging leader trying to preserve his signature charisma and authority.

Optics are still crucial for a presidency that is based on spectacle, and whether correctly or incorrectly, it might be difficult to shake this week’s Oval Office photos.