Donald Trump, 80, Slumps Over as He Appears to Pass Out During Oval Office Event: Watch

President Donald Trump sparked intense scrutiny on social media on Monday, August 10, after appearing drowsy and closing his eyes during an official Oval Office event.

The incident occurred during a White House event in which the octogenarian president signed an executive order to reduce the childhood vaccination schedule.

While National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya was speaking, the 80-year-old POTUS was captured on camera with his eyes shut, slouched in his chair and tilting his head.

“At one point, as his deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller was speaking, Trump even had his head resting completely against the back of his chair with his eyes still closed as Miller ranted about what he called the pressure for parents to vaccinate their young children,” noted The Daily Beast.

The viral footage of him seemingly completely passed out sparked outrage.

Political opponents and critics quickly capitalized on the viral footage. Figures like California Gov. Gavin Newsom mocked the president with nicknames such as "Dozy Don" and "The Nodfather," drawing a direct contrast to Trump’s historical use of the label "Sleepy Joe" for his predecessor, Joe Biden.

“I’m surprised nobody around him has insisted that he also stand during these events, to stay conscious. Shouldn’t be difficult since he’s so incredibly fit!” snarked one social media observer.

The White House has consistently denied claims that the president falls asleep during meetings.

Administration officials and supporters have pushed back against the "napping" narrative, asserting Trump is simply resting his eyes, listening attentively or pacing himself through a grueling executive schedule.

This event is the latest in a series of highly scrutinized moments during his second term, joining previous viral clips from Cabinet meetings and public briefings where observers questioned his alertness and stamina.

Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a CNN medical analyst and cardiologist, alleged that the “Commander in Sleep” has "severe daytime somnolence" and remarked "it’s unusual to be surrounded by people in the Oval Office and you fall asleep.”

"The president has severe daytime somnolence. He falls asleep very often. He’s fallen asleep in the Oval Office on multiple occasions with people talking to him, in the cabinet room,” Dr. Reiner said. “We've seen the president appear to rest his eyes when someone is talking directly to him, and that is distinctly abnormal.”

The doctor also said Trump’s daytime catnaps could be something beyond an old man up all night posting on Truth Social.

Chronic and daytime somnolence, the doctor said, can lead to "an increase in risk of dementia, decrease in cognitive effects in older people... and it can produce a decline in your mental functions.”