Donald Trump - the oldest president to take the office in the US, has insisted that he is sharper than what he was 25 years ago. However, his action suggested otherwise. Democrats must be calling it “poetic justice” as Trump dozed off minutes after criticising ‘sleepy Joe.’

US President Donald Trump appeared to close his eyes multiple times during his ninth Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (Dec 2), sparking renewed scrutiny over his health.

During more-than-two-hour session, reporters noted moments where the 79-year-old shifted between slouching, leaning back, sitting completely still with his eyes shut, and occasionally appearing unresponsive for 10–15 seconds at a time. This despite his press secretary praising him for holding the marathon cabinet meeting

Trump began the meeting with a jab at former President Joe Biden, calling him “Sleepy Joe.” He insisted he remains sharper than he was “25 years ago,” dismissing a recent New York Times report that suggested he has noticeably slowed in his second term. However, minutes later he was seen dozing off.

As Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered closing remarks praising Trump’s “transformational foreign policy,” the president was seen beside him with his eyes closed and shoulders relaxed, only sitting up abruptly midway through the comments. Light moments, including a joke about college football playoffs, drew laughter from Cabinet members, but prompted only a minimal response from Trump.

Amid questions about his health, the White House released a memo from Trump’s physician, Dr Sean P Barbabella, stating the president recently underwent “advanced imaging tests” as part of a comprehensive physical exam. The memo claimed the scans showed “excellent overall health,” including normal cardiovascular and abdominal results. However, the type of imaging remains unclear. Footage of Trump dozing off has gone viral earlier also

Trump, now the oldest president ever sworn into office, has undergone two major physical evaluations this year — one in April and another in October. While the White House insists he remains healthy, the increasingly frequent public moments where Trump appears fatigued or disengaged are fueling debate about his stamina and transparency.