The internet lit up once more this week after footage emerged of Donald Trump appearing drowsy during a press briefing at the White House on Monday, September 29. The clip, shared by journalist Aaron Rupar, captured the 80-year-old president seated in the Oval Office with his eyes gradually drifting shut as conversation continued around him.
It didn't take long for the post to go viral. Social media users piled on with their own observations some joked that "sleepy Don" had made another appearance, while others zeroed in on what they described as slack facial features or twitching, insisting it was among the most fatigued they'd ever seen him look on camera.
Not an Isolated Incident
This latest moment adds to a growing list of instances where Trump's alertness has been called into question. Earlier in September, he drew criticism after being photographed and filmed appearing to doze off during a solemn 9/11 memorial event at the Pentagon a moment that, like this one, spread quickly across social platforms.
The White House has consistently pushed back on any suggestion that the president's health is declining, insisting he remains sharp and physically fit for the job. Still, that reassurance hasn't quieted a chorus of medical voices weighing in from the outside.
Experts Raise Concerns Over Behavior Patterns
Dr. Bandy Lee, a forensic psychiatrist who has held teaching posts at both Harvard and Yale, is among those who've been vocal about what she sees as troubling patterns in the president's conduct. Speaking with Meidas Touch, she pointed to Trump's repeated insistence on inserting himself into major historical moments including his widely challenged claims about being rescued by firefighters on the day the Twin Towers fell as evidence of deep-seated insecurity rather than confidence.
She likened the behavior to something typically seen in very young children, who often fantasize about being all-powerful as a way of coping with how dependent and powerless they actually feel. In a toddler, she noted, that's developmentally normal. In an adult holding the highest office in the country, she argued, it's a different story entirely something she described as far outside the range of healthy psychological functioning. Lee went further, suggesting that the president has grown increasingly erratic as his power has expanded and the guardrails around him have loosened.
Another physician, Dr. Frita McRae Fisher who holds board certification in four medical specialties shared similar concerns during an appearance on The Don Lemon Show. She said that if a patient of hers displayed the kind of behavior patterns attributed to Trump, her first move would be a thorough medical history, memory testing, and brain imaging, followed by a comprehensive cognitive workup to rule out conditions like Alzheimer's or Lewy body dementia.
Fisher specifically flagged Trump's unverified story about firefighters carrying him away from the World Trade Center site, noting that vivid, detailed false memories of that sort can sometimes be associated with hallucinatory symptoms seen in Lewy body dementia patients.
No Official Diagnosis
It's worth stressing that none of this amounts to a confirmed medical finding. No formal diagnosis tied to dementia, Alzheimer's, or any other cognitive condition has been released by Trump's physicians or any official government source. The commentary from Lee and Fisher reflects their professional opinions based on public footage and reporting not direct clinical evaluation of the president.
For now, the debate over Trump's health continues to play out largely on social media and cable news, fueled by viral clips rather than medical records. Whether Monday's moment fades into the background or adds fuel to an already heated conversation remains to be seen.
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