US President Donald Trump was not sleeping during meetings despite viral clips suggesting otherwise, according to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. She addressed the speculation and pushed back against claims about the president’s attentiveness during official engagements.
White House staff comments on Donald Trump sleeping during meetings
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles directly denied that Donald Trump sometimes drifts off during meetings. Responding to footage showing Trump with his eyes closed, Wiles told Vanity Fair, “He’s not asleep. He’s got his eyes closed and his head leaned back … and, you know, he’s fine.”
Her comments specifically reference a televised cabinet meeting on December 2, where footage showed Trump at times squinting and fully closing his eyes during the hours-long session. This followed a similar moment during an Oval Office announcement on November 6 that quickly went viral.
The White House has consistently defended Trump’s energy and attentiveness. When contacted by People regarding the December cabinet meeting, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Trump’s “amazing” performance. “President Trump was listening attentively and running the entire three-hour marathon Cabinet meeting,” Leavitt stated. “In all of these historic meetings, the President and his incredible team highlight the exhaustive list of accomplishments they have delivered on behalf of the American people to Make America Great Again,” she added.
Trump himself has previously commented on his sleep habits, especially during a November 18 meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “He does not sleep much, and I don’t sleep much, I think we have the same schedule. Thinking about our countries,” Trump said. He then contrasted himself with President Joe Biden, whom he mocked for sleeping “all the time.”
This defense follows earlier reports from Trump’s 2024 criminal trial, where a New York Times correspondent noted he “appears to be sleeping.” The White House’s current statements aim to put such narratives to rest firmly, framing the president’s posture as a sign of focus, not fatigue.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu for Mandatory.
