<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/white-house" rel="" target="" title="The White House"><span>The White House</span></a><span> has responded angrily to suggestions that </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> had fallen asleep in an Oval Office meeting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At an event promoting maternal health and fertility, the president's eyes appeared to become heavy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As administration officials standing behind him were speaking, the president closed his eyes for an extended period of time.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/could-you-beat-donald-trump-in-a-fight-poll-results-ufc-event/41cb10ab-ac15-4fd2-bfe9-34b66bd246f5"><strong><span>Americans asked if they could beat Donald Trump in a fight</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But when a Reuters journalist posted a photograph of Trump with his eyes closed, the White House lashed out.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He was blinking, you absolute moron," the White House's X account Rapid Response 47 replied.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The reporter's post had made no mention of Trump being asleep, simply captioning it: "US President Donald Trump attends a maternal health event in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, May 11, 2026."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-falling-asleep-white-house-dozing-nodding-off-usa-politics-news/e0bcbdf0-8aa4-4179-beaa-2b407fa839f1" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu responded: "That is a verrrrrrrrryyyyy long blink."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Imagine what happens when there are no cameras.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Trump is not mentally or physically fit to be President of the United States."</span></div></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="2053894960261300578" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jimmy Gomez, another Democratic congressman, remarked: "This guy is asleep at the wheel, and he's about to drive the entire country off a cliff."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is far from the first time Trump has appeared to nod off during a White House event.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In December, the president appeared to fall asleep during a televised cabinet meeting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He later remarked </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-said-he-was-sharper-than-i-was-25-years-ago-then-he-spent-an-hour-appearing-to-doze-off--again/6276d993-4dfc-40c1-940a-dbc6e8fefc65" rel="" target="" title="he wasn't asleep, just bored"><span>he wasn't asleep, just bored</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I didn't sleep. I just closed (my eyes) because I wanted to get the hell outta here," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also reportedly had trouble keeping his eyes open during an Oval Office event with pharmaceutical executives last month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the 2024 presidential campaign he repeatedly mocked his predecessor </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/joe-biden" rel="" target="" title="Joe Biden"><span>Joe Biden</span></a><span>, who he called </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/joe-biden-tells-governors-he-needs-more-sleep-no-late-events/bbb859f9-53c0-42c7-b7b9-fb59510cd08a" rel="" target="" title='"Sleepy Joe"'><span>"Sleepy Joe"</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/virginia-redistricting-donald-trump-gerrymander-court-decision-tennessee-vra-voting-rights-act-usa-news/c6770f8e-6f16-44c8-a7c7-6e0f6301a0fb"><strong><span>Trump celebrates decision that could secure his party's re-election</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"How do you fall asleep when cameras are raging, right?" </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You'll never see me sleeping in front of the camera."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump has a long habit of staying active on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-media-truth-social-losses-quarterly-report-usa-news/5b38adf5-5f42-4b92-8107-c4b27dfc5ace" rel="" target="" title="Truth Social"><span>Truth Social</span></a><span> well into the night, raising questions about his sleeping habits.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But he made no posts overnight on his social media page last night.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-media-truth-social-losses-quarterly-report-usa-news/5b38adf5-5f42-4b92-8107-c4b27dfc5ace"><strong><span>Trump's company loses half a billion dollars in three months</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span></div></div>