During a July 30 press conference at the White House, Donald Trump unveiled a new initiative aimed at revolutionizing health technology, claiming support from over 60 companies to make Medicare data more accessible. But instead of the policy itself, social media erupted over Trump’s peculiar behavior mid-event.
While Dr. Mehmet Oz spoke, Trump appeared visibly disengaged—his eyes drooping, blinking slowly, and looking increasingly fatigued. The irony wasn’t lost on viewers, many of whom recalled Trump’s long-standing mockery of Joe Biden as “Sleepy Joe.” Now, Trump himself seemed to struggle staying awake.
Online reactions were swift and biting. Reddit users joked that Trump only perks up when receiving exaggerated praise, while others pointed out his late-night social media habits as a possible cause for his drowsiness. One comment summed it up: “He spent years calling Biden sleepy, yet he’s the one nodding off every time he sits down”.
Beyond the optics, the health initiative itself drew criticism. The plan would allow apps like Apple Health to integrate lab results and medical records, offering a more complete health profile. But experts raised alarms over privacy risks. Georgetown law professor Lawrence Gostin warned of “enormous ethical and legal concerns,” cautioning that patients’ data could be misused.
In the end, what was meant to be a showcase of innovation turned into a viral moment of contradiction—Trump, once the loudest critic of perceived weakness, now facing scrutiny for his own apparent lapse in alertness.
