Rep. Ted Lieu Labels Trump 'Sleepy Don' After President Appears to Nod Off During Cabinet Meeting

Rep. Ted Lieu mocked President Trump after video showed the president appearing drowsy during a long Cabinet meeting, calling him “Sleepy Don” and saying he is not fit for office. The footage, which captured Trump with his eyes closed at times, comes amid reporting that he has reduced public appearances and often starts his day late. The White House has defended the president, saying an October MRI was ``preventative,'' a claim some medical experts have questioned. Lieu, a member of the House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees, also criticized Trump’s comments on affordability during the meeting.

10:46 AM, 12/03/2025Politics

Rep. Ted Lieu Labels Trump 'Sleepy Don' After President Appears to Nod Off During Cabinet Meeting

Rep. Ted Lieu pushed back Tuesday after video and photos showed President Donald Trump appearing drowsy during a lengthy Cabinet meeting. Lieu reposted the clip and called the president “not fit to be President,” dubbing him “Sleepy Don.”

“Donald Trump is not fit to be President. Sleepy Don can’t even stay awake at his own televised Cabinet meeting.” — Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA)

The widely shared footage shows Mr. Trump with his head resting on his hand, rubbing his eyes and, at times, appearing to close them while Cabinet members spoke and praised him. The images came as questions are being raised about whether the president can sustain the demanding schedule of the office.

Context and reaction

Recent reporting has noted that Mr. Trump has made fewer public appearances in his second term and often starts his day later than past presidents, sometimes around 10:30 a.m. Observers pointed to an earlier incident in November when Mr. Trump appeared drowsy during an Oval Office event where one speaker later collapsed and required attention.

The White House has defended the president’s energy, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissing criticism of his schedule as politically motivated and calling critical coverage "fake news." Leavitt also said Mr. Trump underwent an MRI in October as a ``preventative'' check of his heart and abdominal health; some medical experts have questioned whether that explanation fits typical clinical practice, noting MRIs are usually prompted by specific symptoms.

Lieu's broader criticism

Lieu, who serves on the House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs Committees, has been an outspoken critic of the administration. Beyond the nickname jab, he criticized the president’s remarks on affordability after what Lieu described as an angry, roughly 30-minute airing of grievances during the meeting.

“Dear White House: Please thank Donald Trump for helping Democrats flip the House. Trump is so out of touch he doesn’t even know prices have continued to increase, electricity prices have surged and health insurance has become unaffordable for millions of Americans.”

This episode has amplified public debate over the president’s stamina and fitness for office, prompting both political attacks and calls for clearer medical transparency from the White House.