Video from Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral ignited fresh debate over President Donald Trump’s appearance during the service. The White House responded with an unusually blunt defense, dismissing claims that the president nodded off during the ceremony.
White House reacts to critics calling out Donald Trump sleeping at Lindsey Graham’s funeral
The White House forcefully rejected online claims that President Donald Trump fell asleep during Tuesday’s funeral for Sen. Lindsey Graham, responding with a sharp rebuke aimed at critics circulating videos from the memorial service. The footage prompted widespread speculation after it appeared to show Trump sitting with his eyes closed following his eulogy at Washington National Cathedral.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle dismissed those accusations in emphatic terms. He told HuffPost that Trump had been reflecting on the loss of a close friend after delivering what he described as a heartfelt tribute to Graham, adding that anyone claiming otherwise was a “depraved moron.”
The online discussion gained momentum after several users shared clips and screenshots from the service, arguing that Trump appeared to struggle to stay awake. Some posts claimed the president looked “completely passed out,” while others said he appeared to be fighting sleep during the memorial.
The latest debate also revived scrutiny over earlier public appearances in which critics similarly questioned Trump’s alertness, including Oval Office events, an Environmental Protection Agency briefing and other official meetings where he was seen repeatedly closing his eyes. The White House has consistently disputed those interpretations, previously insisting Trump was simply blinking or unfairly targeted by political opponents.
The funeral honored Graham, the longtime South Carolina Republican who died earlier this month after suffering an aortic rupture. Trump praised the senator as a respected statesman and a powerful figure in Congress during his eulogy.
Meanwhile, questions surrounding Trump’s health have continued to surface in recent months, although the president has repeatedly insisted he remains in “perfect” health and the White House has rejected outside speculation about his condition (via The Independent).
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.
