'Something Is Very Wrong': Critics Claim Donald Trump Struggled to Stay Awake During State Dinner Speeches

Critics on social media questioned whether 'something is very wrong' with President Donald Trump after footage from Thursday's White House state dinner appeared to show him looking drowsy during remarks by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The state dinner came during Xi's three-day visit to Washington, which began on Wednesday and concluded on Friday, and was held in the East Room on September 24.

Both leaders delivered remarks during the dinner, with Trump offering a toast to Xi before the Chinese president spoke.

The guest list featured senior administration officials and numerous technology and business executives, including Elon Musk of SpaceX, Apple chairman Tim Cook and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Online Reaction to Footage of Trump's Appearance

In one widely shared clip, Xi spoke through an interpreter while Trump sat slightly behind and to his left. Viewers noted that Trump repeatedly blinked and appeared to close his eyes during Xi's remarks, before his expression brightened as Xi announced that two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, would soon come to Zoo Atlanta.

On X, users posted reactions ranging from criticism to satire. Some described the footage as embarrassing on the world stage, while others drew comparisons to Trump's past attacks on Joe Biden over age and alertness. The footage prompted a large volume of posts on X and other platforms within hours of the dinner.

Not all commentary was hostile. Some supporters argued the footage was being overinterpreted, echoing a White House response to earlier footage in May in which the administration said Trump was 'blinking.'

Past Incidents and White House Responses on Trump's Alertness

This is not the first time cameras have focused on Trump's appearance at high-profile gatherings. In February, footage appeared to show Trump struggling to keep his eyes open during the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington, an initiative established by the Trump administration.

The White House has repeatedly rejected suggestions that the president's energy levels are declining. In June, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the House Foreign Relations Committee that he had 'never seen him fall asleep' and said Trump called him at 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Rubio's comments were later discussed alongside footage from other public events in which Trump appeared to close his eyes or nod off, including footage from Sen. Lindsey Graham's funeral at Washington National Cathedral in July, where Trump was shown with his eyes closed and was reported to have appeared to nod off.

In May, the White House's Rapid Response 47 account dismissed similar footage, saying Trump was 'blinking.' White House officials have disputed interpretations of footage from several earlier appearances, saying Trump's eyes were closed or that videos did not show him falling asleep.

What the Footage Shows and What It Does Not

For readers trying to separate fact from spin, the confirmed details are narrow. The state dinner took place on September 24 in the East Room, with both leaders delivering remarks. Video shows Trump blinking and, at points, appearing drowsy during Xi's speech.

The footage does not establish why Trump appeared to close his eyes, and neither the video nor the reactions to it provide evidence of a medical condition. Critics have pointed to footage from several earlier public appearances, while administration officials have disputed interpretations of those images.