Critics Branded Donald Trump 'Abnormal and Pathological' After Appearing To Nod off in Oval Office

Donald Trump faced online criticism after reportedly appearing to fall asleep in the Oval Office during a 30 September White House event announcing a reported $54 billion (£40.9 billion) South Korean investment.

The president had gathered with members of his team and chief executives for an announcement that included the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas project. According to the report, his eyes drooped as the event continued, and he closed them for increasingly long periods while Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy praised him.

The report's description does not establish that Trump was asleep. IBTimes UK cannot independently verify that interpretation from the material supplied.

Critics Focus on Trump's Oval Office Appearance

The criticism followed Trump's attacks on Joe Biden's age ahead of the 2024 election. That earlier campaign argument formed part of the background to the reaction described in the report, which also referred to continuing concerns about Trump's age and health.

Commentator Aaron Rupar shared a clip on X and wrote, 'alert the press -- Trump is conked out in the Oval Office again.'

Other responses extended beyond Trump to members of his team. One user commenting on a video wrote, 'This is a legit problem. And none of his cronies care.'

Another invoked the 1989 film Weekend at Bernies, in which two friends attempt to convince others that their dead boss is alive by carrying him around and propping him up. The user quipped, 'Every damn day! Oval office version of Weekend at Bernies,' referencing the film.

Trump's Health Claims Under Scrutiny

The report also referred to accusations that Trump had fallen asleep during other meetings and high-profile events. Among the examples it cited were video and images from a 9/11 memorial service at the Pentagon, where he appeared to be dozing off.

The account presented those incidents as accusations of sleeping, without confirming that he was asleep. It did not identify a medical assessment of the Oval Office episode.

Trump and his advisers have repeatedly maintained that he is in 'excellent' health, both physically and cognitively, according to the report. The report also referred to doubts expressed by medical experts, but contained no response from his team specifically addressing the 30 September footage.

Lee's Assessment of Trump's Conduct

The report identified Dr Bandy Lee as a forensic and social psychiatrist who has taught at Harvard and Yale. She has characterised Trump's conduct as 'abnormal and pathological'.

Her remarks on MeidasTouch's The Weekend Show concerned his assertions that firefighters rescued him after the Twin Towers fell. The source does not establish that she was commenting on the Oval Office event.

Lee explained, 'The degree for which [he has to place himself at the centre of] every significant event in national history and every significant monument in the nation has to bear his name, all of this goes back to just how fragile he is in his sense of self.'

'This is normally what toddlers do,' she added. 'They have to be king or queen or ruler of the universe in order to fight the feeling that they are quite helpless and dependent on others' care. But of course, that's normal for a two or three-year-old. It is abnormal and pathological when it involves a fully grown adult.'