Concerns about President Donald Trump’s health have surfaced once again after footage from a recent White House press conference showed him sitting back in his Oval Office chair with his eyes closed — just as Dr. Mehmet Oz spoke about the link between obesity and dementia.
The moment, caught on camera during an event announcing a major new partnership between the Trump administration and pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, has since spread rapidly across social media. The deal aims to lower prices and expand coverage for popular weight-loss medications, including Zepbound and Wegovy — drugs that have seen skyrocketing demand across the country.
As cameras rolled, Dr. Oz, who currently leads the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, stood at the podium detailing the serious health consequences linked to obesity. “Knees don’t hurt, people don’t have heart attacks, renal failure, dementia — all the things we know are associated with obesity and much more,” he stated.
But while Dr. Oz spoke, President Trump appeared to lean back in his chair and briefly close his eyes, leading critics to speculate that he may have dozed off during the live broadcast.
Mike Nellis, a senior organizer for Kamala Harris’ campaign, wasted no time mocking the moment online, posting on X: “Dr. Oz connecting obesity to dementia while Trump’s slumped over at his desk is absolutely a choice.”
Others followed suit, posting old photos and videos of Trump appearing to rest during past events. One user joked, “Self-awareness level: minus 348.” Another quipped, “Hey Dr. Oz — have you checked out your Big Mac boss lately?”
When the clip made its way to Reddit, commenters piled on with humor. “Wasn’t this the same event where the pharma exec passed out? What a well-oiled machine our executive branch is today,” one wrote. Another added, “I love that Dr. Oz is talking about people being able to sleep — as Trump is literally sleeping in the background.”
The incident added fuel to a broader media narrative questioning Trump’s energy and mental sharpness. The president recently raised eyebrows during a 60 Minutes interview when asked about several policy issues. When questioned about his decision to pardon crypto mogul Changpeng Zhao — whose firm prosecutors claimed posed a national security risk — Trump responded, “Okay, are you ready? I don’t know who he is,” he said, adding that the situation was nothing more than “Biden witch hunt.”
He also made headlines when asked about Venezuela, saying, “I doubt it, I don’t think so. They’ve been treating us very badly, not only on drugs. They’ve dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country that we didn’t want.”
The press conference itself was not short on chaos. Moments after Dr. Oz finished speaking, a man standing near the President suddenly collapsed, halting the event. Secret Service agents and staff immediately rushed to his aid as reporters were escorted from the room.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that “a representative from one of the companies fainted” but assured reporters that “the gentleman is okay” thanks to the quick response from the White House Medical Unit.
President Trump later told reporters the individual had experienced dizziness but was now “doing fine.”
While the viral clip has fueled online chatter, aides close to the President dismissed the speculation, attributing Trump’s posture to fatigue from his demanding travel and event schedule.
Still, in today’s social media age, even a few seconds of closed eyes are enough to spark a political storm — and this one has quickly become the latest flashpoint in an already heated election season.