White House left unimpressed by coverage of Trump ‘nodding off’

WorldPolitics
27 May 2026 • 1:20 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

White House left unimpressed by coverage of Trump ‘nodding off’

  • A CNN segment scrutinising Donald Trump's health, particularly his sleep habits, went viral and prompted a sharp rebuke from the White House.
  • CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner expressed concerns about Trump's “severe daytime somnolence”, frequent napping, and other visible health issues such as bruising and ankle swelling.
  • The White House dismissed Reiner's comments, accusing CNN of hypocrisy and stating that Trump is the “sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history”.
  • Conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly suggested Trump's drowsiness could be attributed to lack of sleep or unengaging events, rather than a serious medical condition.
  • Despite Trump's assertion that his health check-up “checked out PERFECTLY”, recent polls indicate ongoing public concern regarding his mental sharpness ahead of his 80th birthday.

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