RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 28 sources‘Oh the sweet irony of Trump falling asleep 10x more than Biden ever did,’ wrote one user
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President Donald Trump appeared to struggle to keep his eyes open during Lindsey Graham’s funeral , prompting a flurry of reactions on social media.
The 80-year-old president joined numerous U.S. officials and foreign dignitaries at the Tuesday funeral service for the late South Carolina senator at Washington National Cathedral. Graham, an influential Republican and outspoken foreign policy hawk, died unexpectedly earlier this month of an aortic rupture .
Seated in the front row of the packed cathedral, Trump appeared at times to be on the verge of nodding off, video footage indicates. Social media commenters were quick to express frustration, but not necessarily astonishment.
“Yes everyone, this is the man that holds the nuclear codes. Let that sink in,” wrote one X user, while another chimed in: “No surprise. How long did he go before he went to slumberland?”
When reached by The Independent , White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said, “President Trump was reflecting on the loss of his dear friend Lindsey Graham, who he just delivered a beautiful eulogy to. Anyone suggesting otherwise is a depraved moron.”
Other social media users pointed out that Trump had repeatedly accused Joe Biden, his Democratic predecessor, of falling asleep on the job, nicknaming him “ Sleepy Joe .”
“Oh the sweet irony of Trump falling asleep 10x more than Biden ever did. Karma is real,” one user wrote, while another added: “If Biden slept through a ‘friend's’ funeral we'd still be hearing about it 10 years from now.”
Still, some users came to the president’s defense. One commenter wrote: “Pretty easy to fall asleep in church.”
Trump, who last year became the oldest person ever to assume the presidency, has faced scrutiny over his health since returning to office, with political observers noting that he sometimes appears to doze off during official events .
“The president has severe daytime somnolence,” CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner said in May. “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…And chronic insomnia is a severe illness. It can result in an increase in risk of dementia.”
At the time, a White House spokesperson told The Independent : “President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history and any so-called medical professionals engaging in armchair diagnosis or false speculation for political purposes are clearly breaking the Hippocratic Oath they’ve sworn to.”
Trump has also repeatedly been seen with bruising on his hands , which the White House has attributed to frequent handshaking and daily Aspirin use.
Trump himself has insisted that he is in “ perfect ” health, though many Americans are doubtful.
In a June Quinnipiac survey, a majority of respondents said they believed the White House has not been transparent about the president’s health .
Elsewhere during Tuesday’s funeral service, Trump delivered a eulogy for the late senator, describing him as a “giant” of the Senate and a “respected statesman.”
He also acknowledged that Graham was not beloved by everyone and said the South Carolina senator “never saw a war he didn’t like.”
Also in attendance on Tuesday was Senator Darline Graham , the late senator’s sister, who was appointed to fill out the remainder of his term. After being encouraged to do so by Trump, she announced she will run for a full six-year term.
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