Footage from a Dec. 2 cabinet meeting has renewed scrutiny of President Donald Trump's stamina and mental fitness, after video appeared to show him repeatedly closing his eyes and struggling to stay alert during remarks from several cabinet officials. The episode unfolded days after Trump publicly boasted that he had "aced" a cognitive exam, intensifying debate over his health as the administration faces mounting policy and political challenges.
The meeting brought together the heads of 15 executive departments in the White House Cabinet Room, where Trump, now 79, appeared visibly fatigued. Clips circulating online show him slumping in his chair, eyelids dropping for prolonged intervals, and failing to respond even when senior officials offered praise for his leadership. The images emerged after Trump had spent the previous evening posting at a rapid pace on Truth Social, a late-night online barrage that White House advisers acknowledge has often interfered with his sleep.
Reports indicate that Trump posted roughly 160 times between 7 p.m. and midnight on Dec. 1, resuming activity before dawn on Dec. 2. By the time the cabinet meeting began, fatigue was evident. During Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's presentation, Trump appeared to lose focus entirely, eyes shutting as cameras recorded the moment. The pattern continued as Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the room. Rubio's supportive remarks elicited no reaction; Trump remained hunched over, head down, shifting in his seat.
At one point, as Rubio spoke, Trump's eyes suddenly opened wide before he looked briefly to the side and returned to staring downward. Observers described the moment as reflexive rather than engaged. In other segments, he leaned forward, squinting with visible effort, as if attempting to stay oriented in the discussion.
The episode quickly spread on social media, where critics revived questions about Trump's cognitive capacity. The term "sundowning" trended alongside the clips, referencing a condition associated with dementia. The Mayo Clinic defines sundowning as "a state of confusion that occurs in the late afternoon and lasts into the night," often accompanied by symptoms such as "confusion, anxiety, aggression or ignoring directions." One user wrote, "This is elder-abuse territory. The Trump family should be held accountable for letting this happen." Another commented, "Well, he can't help it. He was up all night manically tweeting."
The scrutiny comes amid continued questions about an MRI Trump underwent at Walter Reed in early October. When asked aboard Air Force One what part of his body had been scanned, CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang pressed for specifics. Trump reacted sharply: "I have no idea. It was just an MRI," he said, pointing at Jiang. "It wasn't the brain because I took a cognitive test and aced it. I got a perfect mark, which you would be incapable of doing."
