Two days after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt, former President Donald Trump made a striking appearance at the opening night of the Republican National Convention (RNC), noticeably wearing a bandage over his right ear. However, a video circulating widely on social media seems to capture a moment where Trump appears to be nodding off during the event on Monday.
The video quickly gained traction online, showing Trump gradually closing his eyes while seated, sparking a flurry of reactions from social media users.
On X platform, one user quipped, "Sleepy Donald Trump falls asleep at his own convention. It's past Sleepy Don's bedtime." Another commented, "He Can’t Stay Awake At The RNC!! He Sleep Bih!!!!! The Media Give Dude All The Passes!!!"
"If Trump can't stay awake at his own convention, how is he going to stay awake for America?" questioned another user. "I think it's time he should step down and let someone much younger take his place."
Some took a more light-hearted approach, with one user joking, “That man ready to go home,” while another speculated, “He going to blame it on the meds they gave for the ear infection.”
Amidst these critiques, there were voices defending Trump, considering his recent traumatic experience. "Dude got shot and you are concerned about his sleep schedule," remarked one user.
Others suggested possible reasons for Trump's apparent drowsiness. "He's probably on super strong pain pills. Just a thought," one comment read, while another user humorously dubbed him "Sleepy Don."
Opinions varied among viewers, with some asserting that Trump was merely closing his eyes during a prayer session, while others felt his fatigue was understandable given the recent attempt on his life.
As the video spread, the American media sought to clarify the situation. CBS News verification producer Jim La Porta weighed in, stating, "I’m seeing claims that former President Trump fell asleep at one point during the RNC. I matched up the time stamps. Trump’s eyes are closed because this occurred during Pastor James Roemke’s prayer."
However, Newsweek countered, stating that their analysis indicated the clip in question occurred during a speech by Harmeet Dhillon, a Republican Party official.
Amidst these discussions, neither Trump nor his team has officially addressed the video or the allegations surrounding it.
