White House accused of ‘gaslighting’ over absurd excuse for Trump’s latest on-camera nap - BERITAJA

President Donald Trump appeared to autumn dormant during an Oval Office arena connected Monday, May 11, sparking a activity of disapproval that prompted the White House to insist he was simply “blinking.” The mentation quickly triggered ridicule online, pinch critics accusing the Trump management of trying to “gaslight” the nationalist arsenic videos of the infinitesimal dispersed crossed societal media.

White House pushes backmost aft Trump ‘nodding off’ clip goes viral

President Donald Trump hosted an arena focused connected maternal wellness alongside Cabinet officials, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt and Dr. Mehmet Oz. By: MEGA

On May 11, Trump hosted an arena focused connected maternal wellness alongside Cabinet officials, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who presently leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. During the event, cameras captured the president pinch his eyes closed for an extended period. Photos and video clips quickly circulated online, starring galore users to estimate that Trump had concisely nodded off. According to critics online, footage appeared to show Trump’s eyes closed for about 17 seconds. 

The White House accelerated consequence relationship reacted aggressively aft Reuters National Security Correspondent Idrees Ali shared 1 image of Trump’s evident nap. “He was blinking, you absolute moron,” the relationship fired backmost connected X.

He was blinking, you absolute moron https://t.co/7gw3n7l8R3

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 11, 2026

The consequence instantly fueled different activity of criticism. One societal media personification accused the Trump management of “gaslighting,” writing, “Blinking. Do you each effort to gaslight yourselves also? How bizarre!”

Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu besides mocked the explanation, posting a video clip and writing, “Dear @RapidResponse47: That is simply a verrrrrrrrryyyyy agelong blink.”

The contention escalated further aft White House Communications Director Steven Cheung responded straight to Lieu. “Ted Lewd is simply a loser of the highest bid and he needs to get superior master thief for his debilitating lawsuit of Trump Derangement Syndrome,” Cheung wrote.

Blinking. Do you each effort to galsight yourselves also? How bizarre!

— KayDee42 (@Kay42Dee) May 13, 2026

Trump has many times denied falling dormant successful public

The Trump administration’s protect consequence added to broader questions surrounding Trump’s nationalist stamina during his 2nd term. The president, who regularly criticized erstwhile President Joe Biden arsenic “Sleepy Joe,” has many times denied falling dormant during charismatic events, arguing alternatively that photographs simply seizure him during blinks aliases moments of rest.

In an earlier question and reply pinch The Wall Street Journal, Trump addressed akin accusations directly: “It’s very relaxing to me,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll return a image of maine blinking, blinking, and they’ll drawback maine pinch the blink.”

Similar incidents person followed Trump for months

President Donald Trump has many times appeared fatigued and sleepy during nationalist events. By: MEGA

The evident May 11 nod-off wasn’t an isolated event, arsenic Trump has many times appeared fatigued and sleepy during nationalist events. In April, critics accused him of dozing disconnected during a White House healthcare affordability arena while Regeneron CEO Len Schleifer discussed experimental supplier trials.

California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked the infinitesimal online, calling Trump “asleep astatine the wheel,” while his agency posted, “DOZY DON IS BUSY DOZING.”

In March, President Trump was seen apparently catching immoderate shut-eye during respective White House events, including during his ain White House roundtable gathering connected customer power prices connected March 4. Reports described the president many times lowering his caput and closing his eyes during the 56-minute session.

Trump reportedly not getting capable sleep

Questions about President Donald Trump’s power levels person besides been tied to reports about his individual schedule and constricted sleep. By: MEGA

Questions about Trump’s power levels person besides been tied to reports about his individual schedule and constricted sleep. An study of Trump’s societal media activity by The Daily Beast successful April concluded that his late-night and early-morning posting habits near small room for a afloat night’s remainder connected about days.

CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins antecedently described Trump’s recreation habits during world trips — for illustration his caller travel to China — saying he seldom sleeps aboard Air Force One. “He doesn’t slumber connected these trips,” Collins said during a 2025 podcast appearance. “Trump is conscionable ever up and talking, and he’ll person them spell and aftermath unit up if they’re dormant because he wants to talk to them.”