At a June 3 House hearing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that he had ever seen President Trump fall asleep during official meetings after Rep. Ted Lieu played video clips showing the president with his eyes closed at two Cabinet meetings and a Memorial Day event. Lawmakers said the footage raises questions about Trump’s fitness for office, while the White House physician said the president remains fit to serve despite a recent physical that noted he is near clinically obese. Medical notes cite chronic venous insufficiency for leg swelling and attribute bruising to aspirin and frequent handshakes.
Rubio Rejects Claims Trump Dozed During Meetings as Lawmakers Play Video Clips
US President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet Meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2, 2025.(ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS, AFP via Getty Images)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on claims that President Donald Trump fell asleep during official events while testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on June 3. Rep. Ted Lieu played multiple video clips showing the president with his eyes closed for stretches at two Cabinet meetings and a Memorial Day ceremony; Rubio had been seated beside the president at the two Cabinet meetings shown.
What Took Place
When Rep. Lieu asked, “Secretary Rubio, have you been at more than one meeting where President Trump has fallen asleep?” he was referring to a December Cabinet meeting clip in which the president appears with his eyes closed and his head nodding while Rubio speaks. Rubio responded emphatically that the claim was false.
“That’s false. I’ve never seen him fall asleep. On the contrary, the guy doesn’t sleep. Which is a big problem, because he calls me at 2 in the morning, he calls me at 5 in the morning, and you know, I like to sleep a little bit.”
Lieu played additional footage from a more recent Cabinet meeting that showed Rubio discussing foreign conflicts while the president again appeared to have his eyes closed. Lieu accused Rubio of being dishonest and argued the clips raise important questions about Trump’s fitness for office.
Health Concerns and Official Medical Findings
The president’s perceived drowsiness has become part of broader scrutiny over his health as he nears his 80th birthday. Observers have pointed to bruising on his hands, swelling in his lower legs, and a rash on his neck. Physicians have said the leg swelling is caused by chronic venous insufficiency, a common, generally benign condition in older adults. A recent medical note attributed the bruised hands to aspirin use (a blood thinner) and frequent handshaking.
Trump underwent a physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last month—his fourth checkup in 13 months. The results indicated he is close to being clinically obese and his doctor recommended weight loss and exercise, while still stating the president’s “cognitive and physical performance are excellent.” Capt. Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, wrote that “He is fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.”
President's Response
After the December Cabinet meeting, Trump said he had closed his eyes because the session ran long, calling it “boring” and saying he “wanted to get the hell out of here.” At a subsequent Cabinet gathering he reiterated, “I didn’t sleep, I just closed them. I don’t sleep much.”
The exchange between Rubio and Lieu underscores a partisan dispute over how visual evidence and medical findings should inform public perceptions about a president’s fitness for office. Lawmakers on both sides framed the video clips to support competing narratives about the president’s health and capacity to serve.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 2, 2025.(Brian Snyder, Reuters)
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 2, 2025.(Brian Snyder, REUTERS)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks while seated next to President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Dec.2, 2025 in Washington, DC.(Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2, 2025.(Brian Snyder, Reuters)
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2, 2025.(Brian Snyder, Reuters)
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., Dec. 2, 2025.(Brian Snyder, Reuters)
Episodes of President Trump closing his eyes and appearing to fall asleep during Cabinet meetings and other events have led Democrats to raise questions about his age and fitness for office.
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