By Obinna Ejianya
Based on a report by 9News Australia

Viral footage showing U.S. President Donald Trump appearing to close his eyes during a White House event has sparked debate online and renewed questions about his health and energy levels.

The images, taken during a Thursday announcement on cutting prices for weight-loss drugs, show Trump occasionally rubbing his eyes and appearing to struggle to keep them open while speaking from the Oval Office.

Clips from the event quickly made the rounds on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and other social media platforms, with political opponents mocking the moment. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s media team even joined the conversation, posting screenshots captioned: “DOZY DON IS BACK.”

In response, the White House pushed back against claims that the president was nodding off. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers told CNN that Trump was “not sleeping” and had answered numerous questions from reporters during what she called a “historic announcement” to lower drug costs.

Rogers said the media’s focus on the president’s appearance was an attempt to “distract from policies that save lives and money for millions of Americans.”

Trump, who at 79 is the oldest person ever to serve as U.S. president, has faced ongoing scrutiny over his health. The White House recently confirmed that doctors diagnosed him with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that can cause leg swelling and fatigue.

While occasional signs of tiredness are common among world leaders — even younger ones like Barack Obama once appeared fatigued during lengthy global summits — Trump’s critics say the incident adds to growing concerns about his fitness.

Ironically, the president has repeatedly mocked his predecessor, Joe Biden, calling him “Sleepy Joe.”

The episode underscores how quickly a few seconds of video can dominate global conversation in the age of social media.

In another scene, a man was seen in a video slumping next to Trump’s White House Desk.