Netizens Mock President Donald Trump After Video Shows Him Slumping Over in His Chair

President Donald Trump faced online mockery after appearing to doze off during an Oval Office event on Monday, September 28, 2026, shortly after referring to his predecessor Joe Biden as 'Sleepy Joe.'

Trump was announcing a planned $15 billion (£11.28 billion) steel complex in Iowa when footage showed him closing his eyes and lowering his head as other officials spoke.

The timing quickly drew attention online, with clips circulating on X and other social-media platforms. Trump has long used the 'Sleepy Joe' nickname to question Biden's energy and fitness for office, and the contrast between the taunt and the video became the focus of immediate ridicule.

Online Reaction and Political Response

Social media users were quick to dub him 'Dozy Don' and 'Sleepy Joe Trump,' with commentators highlighting the double standard. 'And please note the facial twitches, too,' wrote activist JoJoFromJerz, while journalist Sandi Bachom asked, 'Serious question, who's running the government?' Another post warned, 'Midterms will finish what the eyelids started.'

Hunter Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom also weighed in with jabs, according to multiple outlets. The moment became the latest in a series of public appearances where Trump has been accused of nodding off, with the Independent compiling a tally of 29 such instances since he returned to the White House, though that figure records appearances rather than confirmed episodes of sleep.

White House officials have repeatedly denied that the president falls asleep during public events, insisting he is 'blinking,' 'listening intently' or 'solemnly listening.'

Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair that Trump 'is not sleeping' when seen with his head leaned and eyes closed, and that 'he's fine.' Trump himself has said he sometimes closes his eyes because he finds it relaxing.

Doctor Raises Questions About Trump's Apparent Sleepiness

The footage has also renewed discussion about Trump's apparent sleepiness at public events. CNN medical analyst Dr Jonathan Reiner has previously said he believes the president has repeatedly fallen asleep during official appearances, describing what he called 'increased daytime somnolence.'

Reiner has suggested that sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea can cause excessive daytime sleepiness, while acknowledging that he has not been told Trump has sleep apnoea.

Those comments do not establish that Trump has sleep apnoea or any other sleep disorder.

Similarly, physician Frita McRae Fisher said in a September 18 appearance that she would consider further cognitive assessment when evaluating a patient displaying certain behaviours she associated with Trump. Her remarks were hypothetical and did not amount to a diagnosis of Trump.

Trump's publicly released May 2026 medical assessment provides additional context. His neurological examination was normal and he scored 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Steel Plant Announcement and What Happened Next

The event's stated purpose was the announcement of a proposed steel mill in Iowa by Minnesota-based Mesabi Metallics, backed by India's Essar Group, with production expected to begin in 2030 and create 1,750 permanent jobs.

The White House said the plant's first phase would produce 7.5 million tons of steel each year and support more than 6,000 construction jobs, with the fully developed mine expected to produce 10 million tons annually.

Trump told the room, 'This announcement is only possible because of the pro-American policies of the Trump administration. Under Sleepy Joe Biden, have you heard of him?'

Shortly afterward, as Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick spoke, cameras caught the president slumping back, closing his eyes and letting his head drop forward for long stretches.

Full footage shared by the White House shows Trump repeatedly reopening his eyes and later participating in the event.

The footage shows Trump with his eyes closed and head lowered, but it does not independently establish that he was asleep. Still, the contrast between the 'Sleepy Joe' remark and the live video was enough to send social media into overdrive.