Dr. Jonathan Reiner told Jake Tapper that President Trump’s apparent daytime dozing — which Reiner links to late-night social media activity — could interfere with presidential duties, including briefings. Reiner asked whether staff have shortened or curtailed briefings because the president appears sleepy during the day. He also flagged lingering questions after a report that 22 medical specialists evaluated the president during a recent physical. The White House has dismissed the images as blinking.
CNN Medical Analyst Warns Trump’s Daytime Dozing Could Disrupt Presidential Briefings
CNN Medical Analyst Has 1 Worrying Question About Donald Trump's Apparent Daytime Dozing
CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner on Thursday warned that President Donald Trump’s apparent tendency to nod off during daytime public events could have practical implications for his ability to carry out official duties.
What Reiner Said
Reiner, who formerly served as a cardiologist to the late Vice President Dick Cheney, told Jake Tapper on CNN’s The Lead that the president’s “daytime somnolence, his sleepiness” is “not really a mystery.” He suggested that the president’s nighttime activity on social media likely contributes to pronounced daytime sleepiness.
“He doesn’t sleep at night. He’s up posting on social media in the middle of the night,” Reiner said. “The net effect is that he’s sleepy during the day and this has a real concern.”
Reiner asked whether White House staff have had to shorten briefings because “the president is very sleepy during the day,” and whether important sessions — including daily CIA briefings — had been curtailed for that reason. He emphasized that the issue is not merely a matter of optics: if the president is falling asleep during official events, it raises operational concerns.
The White House has previously dismissed images of the president apparently dozing as simple blinking.
Context And Outstanding Questions
Reiner’s remarks came amid broader scrutiny of the president’s health after a Washington Post report that he was evaluated by 22 medical specialists as part of a recent physical exam. On X, Reiner said there remain “lingering questions concerning the president’s recent medical exam,” asking explicitly: “One big question: Why were so many (22) consultants brought in to evaluate the president?”
Observers say the exchange highlights questions about transparency in presidential health disclosures and whether visible signs like daytime dozing warrant a fuller explanation from the White House and the medical team that evaluated the president.
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