‘Sleepy Don!’ Watch: Trump appears to doze off during White Hosue meeting; social media turns his famous ‘sleepy Joe’ nickname against him

President Donald Trump, 80, appeared to close his eyes and tilt his head while Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, was speaking during an executive order ceremony at the White House on Monday, August 10.

“Today is a historic day for public health in this country,” Bhattacharya, 58, said during the ceremony.

Trump was there to sign an executive order to overhaul the nation's childhood vaccine recommendations, amid his administration's claims that vaccines are linked to autism. But footage of Trump appearing to close his eyes quickly became the focus of attention online.


Social media users began mocking the president with the nickname “Sleepy Don,” turning a phrase Trump himself famously used against his predecessor back on him.

‘Sleepy Don’ takes over social media

The viral video prompted a wave of sarcastic reactions on social media. One user wrote, "Even with stage 4 cancer, President Biden is more active and more awake than sleepy don.”

Another user mocked the moment by writing, "Pretty long ‘blink’ there, sleepy don.” Another post from a user identified as “She’s called ‘The Zapper’” joked about someone pressing a device against Trump's stomach to “zap” Sleepy Don awake.

The reactions turned Trump's apparent drowsiness into a political punchline, particularly because of his long-running use of the “Sleepy Joe” nickname against Biden.

Trump has appeared to fall asleep on camera before

This is not the first time Trump has appeared to close his eyes during a public event. Trump appeared to shut his eyes during a Cabinet meeting in December 2025, prompting speculation that he was falling asleep. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, however, rejected that interpretation.

Speaking to Vanity Fair, Wiles said Trump was not sleeping when he closed his eyes during meetings. “He’s not asleep,” Wiles said. “He’s got his eyes closed and his head leaned back ... and, you know, he’s fine.”

From ‘Sleepy Joe’ to ‘Sleepy Don’

The irony has not been lost on social media users. During his presidential campaign against Joe Biden, Trump repeatedly attacked his Democratic opponent by calling him “Sleepy Joe.”

The nickname became one of Trump's most recognizable insults toward Biden, portraying his political rival as tired and lacking energy.

Trump even used the sleep-related jab when Biden was preparing for his 2021 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

At the time, Trump told Biden not to “fall asleep” during the meeting with Putin.

Years later, Trump himself is now at the center of a viral video in which he appears to close his eyes during a White House event.