What to Know
There was once a time when those who support Donald Trump, no questions asked, came for Joe Biden and even referred to him as “Sleepy Joe” because of his age and supposed tendency to have a lack of awareness and energy in public during his time in office as the president. Now, though, MAGA should be dinging another tune since Trump appeared to literally fall asleep during a meeting in the Oval Office.
No really, “Sleepy Don” is definitely a thing now that clips and photos of Trump appearing to be asleep at his desk with a room full of government officials were posted on TikTok and everywhere else online. It’s hard to know how anyone close to Trump could even spin this, and now, it seems, the tables have turned just a bit.
Trump would never admit to actually falling asleep.
@katieflyfried Who’s sleepy now??? #creatorsearchinsights #greenscreen #governmentcorruption #oligarchy #fdt ♬ original sound – ‘No Kings’ Katie
In the past, when Trump was seen nodding off or looking particularly tired during a recorded meeting at the White House, he chalked it up to boredom, according to The Independent. He even once said he just closed his eyes. Yeah, we’ve all heard the “I’m just resting my eyes” excuse from our parents over the years, so nice try on that one.
And, when the photo was shared by one TikTok user, people commented on it to share their thoughts on Trump taking the reins as the Sleepy Joe he once poked and prodded.
“He’s great at blinking, some say he’s the best at it, he can out-blink anyone and can sustain a blink longer than anyone else,” a user commented.
Others pointed out that, if they were to fall asleep on the job at their respective places of work, they would be fired. Not Trump, though.
And, a TikToker commented, “The falling asleep isn’t an issue, it’s the waking up I don’t like” Ouch.
Someone else unofficially nicknamed Trump “Dozey Don.”
Another pointed out, “I’ve heard ‘Sleepy Joe’ hundreds of times but literally never saw a photo of him sleeping in the Oval Office.”
Some other comments included, “To be fair, toddlers need their naps,” “Hard to stay awake when you’re fever dream rage posting all night long,” and “I mean, if I fell asleep at my job I’d be fired. I’m just saying.”
His cognitive abilities have been called into question before.
This isn’t the first time that the American people had some questions and concerns about Trump and his cognitive abilities and abilities he may or may not have to run a country. In August 2025, Trump was seen walking on the White House roof for reasons that aren’t totally clear. Trump potentially falling asleep and getting caught doing so on camera is another thing to add to the list for some of his harsher critics.
He has also become known for speeches where he rambles on, sometimes in an incoherent way and sometimes on nonsensical tangents. Trump also favors long, drawn out late night posts on Truth Social. Really, he’s just doing a lot of first for a president, and not in the way some people would hope.
Someone commented on the TikTok with the photo of Trump, “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a picture of a world leader completely and utterly asleep in the middle of a meeting like this. This is absurd.”
There’s an AI video of Trump sleeping at his desk.
Let’s hold up a second. Yes, Trump fell asleep again in the Oval Office. Yes, he’s unfit for the job. Yes, he’s quickly losing his cognitive abilities. Yes, he should be removed immediately. But this image that is spreading virally of Trump bonking his head on the Resolute Desk… pic.twitter.com/WBEWIL4xrf
— David Pakman (@dpakman) April 24, 2026
To be fair, we aren’t talking about any of the AI videos that social media users made which depict Trump slumped over at his desk, tongue hanging out, in a deep sleep. Those are obviously fake and, per Snopes, that might be why people are sure Trump actually fell asleep in the Oval Office during an important meeting that was photographed.
No, in this case, it’s the photo that has Trump haters rejoicing with him being caught in 4K (well, sort of) looking every bit as incompetent as they believe he is. Now if only he would admit to it.
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