A CNN medical analyst has publicly questioned the cognitive health of 80-year-old President Donald Trump and accused the White House of failing to disclose what evaluations, if any, have been conducted to address the commander in chief’s repeated episodes of falling asleep during daytime events — episodes documented across months of public appearances that continued even after Trump defended his mental acuity and stamina.
Medical Expert Raises Alarm Over Repeated Drowsiness
Dr. Jonathan Reiner, who teaches cardiology at George Washington University’s School of Medicine and formerly worked as a longtime physician to former Vice President Dick Cheney, told CNN host Kate Bolduan in May 2026 that Trump displays marked drowsiness throughout the day, regularly falling asleep during gatherings that include staffers in settings such as the Oval Office and cabinet room. Reiner cautioned that ongoing sleep problems — which he identified as a potential cause — pose substantial dangers for elderly individuals, including heightened dementia risk and observable drops in mental sharpness.
The physician also pointed to other visible health concerns: recurring bruising on the president’s hands along with ankle and leg swelling. While officials have previously said the bruises result from energetic handshaking and attributed the puffiness to chronic venous insufficiency, Reiner indicated these justifications lack credibility. He urged officials to clarify whether any medical steps have been taken to assess and treat the president’s pattern of excessive daytime sleepiness.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle fired back, dismissing Reiner as potentially “a Democrat hack doctor” and insisted Trump is “the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history.” The White House rapid response account on social media tried to redirect attention toward Bolduan and her guest, suggesting their eyes also looked shut on air.
December Cabinet Session Showed the Contradiction
The scrutiny intensified after a Dec. 2, 2025, Cabinet meeting just after noon where Trump appeared to doze off roughly 15 minutes after declaring himself “sharper than I was 25 years ago” and dismissing media reports about his stamina. Trump opened the session by using his “Sleepy Joe” moniker for former President Joe Biden while asserting his mental fitness — remarks aimed at countering a New York Times article suggesting the then-79-year-old had experienced diminished energy in his second term. During the next 90 minutes, however, CNN documented that Trump seemed to battle fatigue multiple times, his eyelids growing heavy as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick discussed trade policy. Trump attempted to head off such observations at the December 2025 Cabinet meeting, telling reporters, “You people are crazy,” and dismissing the health coverage as politically motivated.
Multiple Incidents Across Different Settings
The December 2025 Cabinet meeting was far from an isolated occurrence. On Nov. 6, 2025, during an Oval Office event unveiling price reductions for weight-loss medications, photographs spread rapidly across social platforms depicting Trump with shut eyelids, plainly fighting to stay alert at various times, and repeatedly touching his eyes.
The press office for California Gov. Gavin Newsom quickly posted images from the event with the caption: “DOZY DON IS BACK.” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers pushed back sharply, stating that Trump spoke throughout the event and fielded numerous press questions. Rogers argued that the episode received a “garbage narrative” from “the failing, liberal media.”
During a National Guard briefing in March 2026, witnesses noted Trump shutting his eyes for stretches lasting between 10 and 15 seconds. What sets the current situation apart, according to those raising concerns, is the documented pattern of episodes across multiple settings regardless of the stakes of the event.
The Sharpest Scrutiny for the Oldest President
Trump, who is the oldest man ever inaugurated to the presidency, spent much of his first term and his 2024 campaign attacking former President Joe Biden — who remains the oldest person to have served as president — over questions about age and mental acuity. That history makes the current scrutiny particularly charged.
Supporters of the president point to a genuine counterargument. Trump regularly appears before cameras for extended stretches, takes unscripted questions from journalists, delivered an economic speech in Miami that ran more than an hour, and completed a three-nation swing through Asia. Aides describe a president who contacts staff at all hours of the day and night. Context also matters: even former President Barack Obama was occasionally observed rubbing fatigued eyes during lengthy international summits.
Unanswered Medical Questions Persist
Reiner’s public call for the White House to disclose what medical evaluation, if any, has addressed the issue remains unanswered. His appearance with Bolduan came ahead of the president’s visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center — his second check-up since October. Trump said in October 2025 that he underwent an MRI during a physical at Walter Reed but did not say why; the White House later released only a summary of that imaging, and his physicians’ full conclusions have not appeared in official readouts. The White House has not provided a detailed medical response to the pattern of incidents or to the specific questions raised by Reiner and others.
