<p>The White House, in an aggressive post on X, has offered a wild explanation for why US President Donald Trump once again seemed to be dozing off during a public event in the Oval Office on Monday (May 11). "He was blinking, you absolute moron," said White House's Rapid Response handle in reply to a Reuters article about Trump attending the maternal health event. Notably, the White House's snarky reply was made to a post that did not even mention Trump dozing off, but only included a picture of the POTUS with his eyes closed.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/democrats-roast-trump-on-national-napping-day-with-commander-in-sleep-dig-1773134748472"><strong>‘Commander-in-Sleep’: Democrats roast sleepy Trump on National Napping Day</strong></a></p><h2><strong>'A verrrrrrrrryyyyy long blink'</strong></h2><p>The White House's response comes as photos and videos of Trump seemingly dozing off while hosting an event on maternal health went viral on social media.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He was blinking, you absolute moron <a href="https://t.co/7gw3n7l8R3">https://t.co/7gw3n7l8R3</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2053894960261300578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>The aggressive response earned White House some sarcastic comments, with Democratic Representative Ted Lieu among others sharing a video of Trump with his eyes closed and the caption, "Dear @RapidResponse47: That is a verrrrrrrrryyyyy long blink". The 17-second video shows Trump with his eyes closed throughout, even as aides standing right beside him talk.</p><p>Trump, who regularly refers to his predecessor Joe Biden as "Sleepy Joe", has been caught multiple times in the one year of his second term with his eyes closed during official events.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-two-timed-trump-report-reveals-islamabad-quietly-sheltered-iranian-military-aircraft-while-brokering-peace-talks-1778551810479"><strong>Pakistan two-timed Trump? Report REVEALS Islamabad quietly sheltered Iranian military aircraft while playing mediator in Iran war</strong></a></p><p>The latest nodding-off episode comes just a week after he appeared to suffer a bout of fatigue during an Oval Office event announcing the return of the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools. According to reports, similar episodes were observed in April, on multiple occasions in March, as well as in February and January.</p><h2><strong>‘Commander-in-Sleep’ Trump defends himself</strong></h2><p>Donald Trump had earlier denied accusations that he falls asleep in public, insisting that photos showing his eyes closed are simply moments of blinking or briefly shutting his eyes to relax. “It’s very relaxing to me,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.” The POTUS had also accepted that he gets little sleep, a claim reinforced by reports highlighting his late-night social media activity and accounts from journalists describing him as staying awake for long stretches even during international trips.</p>

The White House is pushing back hard after viral footage appeared to show Trump dozing off again, insisting he was simply “blinking.” But with critics calling it a “very long blink,” the episode has quickly become fresh fuel for political mockery. Scroll down.

The White House, in an aggressive post on X, has offered a wild explanation for why US President Donald Trump once again seemed to be dozing off during a public event in the Oval Office on Monday (May 11). "He was blinking, you absolute moron," said White House's Rapid Response handle in reply to a Reuters article about Trump attending the maternal health event. Notably, the White House's snarky reply was made to a post that did not even mention Trump dozing off, but only included a picture of the POTUS with his eyes closed. Also read | ‘Commander-in-Sleep’: Democrats roast sleepy Trump on National Napping Day 'A verrrrrrrrryyyyy long blink' The White House's response comes as photos and videos of Trump seemingly dozing off while hosting an event on maternal health went viral on social media.

<p>The White House is pushing back hard after viral footage appeared to show Trump dozing off again, insisting he was simply “blinking.” But with critics calling it a “very long blink,” the episode has quickly become fresh fuel for political mockery. Scroll down.</p>

'You absolute moron': White House goes nuclear as photos of Trump dozing off during Oval Office event goes viral

<p>US Democrats on Sunday (Mar 9) used an unofficial holiday to poke fun at President Donald Trump for his tendency to appear drowsy during public events. On Monday, the official account of the Democratic Party on X marked National Napping Day with a jab at the 79-year-old president, giving him the nickname "Commander-in-Sleep".</p><h2><strong>Big day for Commander-in-Sleep</strong></h2><p>Taking to X, TheDemocrats account in response to a post noting the holiday said, "Big day for the Commander-in-Sleep". The message quickly spread online, adding to an ongoing political back-and-forth over the president's stamina and work habits.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/economy/amid-iran-war-dubai-gold-at-discount-of-30-but-it-s-bad-news-for-india-here-s-why-gold-prices-latest-1772863560146"><strong>Amid Iran war Dubai selling gold at discount, but it’s bad news for India. Here’s why</strong></a></p><p>Another Democratic aligned account, run by aides to former vice president Kamala Harris, joined the criticism.</p><p>The account shared a photo showing Trump with his eyes closed during a November event in the Oval Office that focused on agreements with drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk involving GLP 1 medications.</p><p>Images of Trump appearing to doze off have repeatedly circulated during his second term, often becoming fodder for political opponents.</p><p>Netizens too joined in on the fun, &nbsp;trolling Trump. Here are some choice memes you can't miss.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">😂 <a href="https://t.co/aNmzA5zoA3">pic.twitter.com/aNmzA5zoA3</a></p>&mdash; AllAboutTheZen (@ShineTheLoveFam) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShineTheLoveFam/status/2031041752644100307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big day for the Commander-in-Sleep <a href="https://t.co/VrnA5XsIYr">https://t.co/VrnA5XsIYr</a> <a href="https://t.co/iTAW6qJZln">pic.twitter.com/iTAW6qJZln</a></p>&mdash; Democrats (@TheDemocrats) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDemocrats/status/2031035660442747021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://t.co/LqZ1CO34TX">pic.twitter.com/LqZ1CO34TX</a></p>&mdash; Peacediva ☮️ (@peacediva7) <a href="https://twitter.com/peacediva7/status/2031053328172327003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p><h2><strong>Republicans defend the president’s work pace</strong></h2><p>Trump’s allies have pushed back strongly against the criticism. Mike Johnson praised the president’s energy during a gathering of House Republicans at Trump’s golf resort in Miami.</p><p>Johnson described Trump as "the most active president" he has seen and suggested the president’s limited sleep is part of the reason. Trump is "the most energised president, the most successful president, I believe, in my lifetime, and he’s proven it over and over and over. And part of it is because he doesn’t sleep, thankfully," he said.</p><p>"I get calls from him at 2 a.m. and 7 a.m., sometimes in the same day. He doesn’t require a lot of sleep, thankfully. And he is the man for the moment," he added.”</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/america-s-deadliest-war-crime-investigation-finds-us-likely-responsible-for-devastating-school-strike-that-killed-150-iranian-girls-1772766411530"><strong>US investigation admits America may be responsible for devastating school strike that killed over 150 Iranian girls</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Trump addresses the criticism</strong></h2><p>Trump himself has previously dismissed the claims that he falls asleep during meetings.</p><p>During a cabinet gathering, he said that while critics often highlight moments where his eyes appear closed, he was not actually sleeping.</p><p>"Some people said he closed his eyes," Trump told reporters. "Look, it got pretty boring."</p><p>He added that photographs sometimes capture a brief moment when his eyes are shut, which can create the impression he had dozed off. "I didn’t sleep," he said. "I just closed them."<br> </p></p>

Why are Democrats calling Donald Trump the “Commander-in-Sleep”? The jab came on National Napping Day after pics of the US president appearing to doze off during events went viral. Trump’s allies say he barely sleeps. So what sparked the latest political mockery? Scroll down to find out.

US Democrats on Sunday (Mar 9) used an unofficial holiday to poke fun at President Donald Trump for his tendency to appear drowsy during public events. On Monday, the official account of the Democratic Party on X marked National Napping Day with a jab at the 79-year-old president, giving him the nickname "Commander-in-Sleep". Big day for Commander-in-Sleep Taking to X, TheDemocrats account in response to a post noting the holiday said, "Big day for the Commander-in-Sleep". The message quickly spread online, adding to an ongoing political back-and-forth over the president's stamina and work habits. Also read | Amid Iran war Dubai selling gold at discount, but it’s bad news for India. Here’s why Another Democratic aligned account, run by aides to former vice president Kamala Harris, joined the criticism. The account shared a photo showing Trump with his eyes closed during a November event in the Oval Office that focused on agreements with drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk involving GLP 1 medications. Images of Trump appearing to doze off have repeatedly circulated during his second term, often becoming fodder for political opponents. Netizens too joined in on the fun, trolling Trump. Here are some choice memes you can't miss.

<p>Why are Democrats calling Donald Trump the “Commander-in-Sleep”? The jab came on National Napping Day after pics of the US president appearing to doze off during events went viral. Trump’s allies say he barely sleeps. So what sparked the latest political mockery? Scroll down to find out.</p>

‘Commander-in-Sleep’: Democrats roast sleepy Trump on National Napping Day

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'You absolute moron': White House goes nuclear as photos of Trump dozing off during Oval Office event goes viral

‘Commander-in-Sleep’: Democrats roast sleepy Trump on National Napping Day