Kamal Ghorui
A video of US President Donald Trump appearing to doze off during the launch of his “Board of Peace” has gone viral on social media, sparking debate and criticism over his energy levels and fitness for office.The footage, recorded during the inaugural meeting at the United States Institute of Peace, shows the 79-year-old president sitting with his eyes closed and head slightly drooping while military officials and global representatives delivered speeches.The moment occurred during remarks by Major General Jasper Jeffers III, when Trump appeared motionless with his eyes shut for several seconds, prompting speculation online about whether he had briefly fallen asleep.The meeting itself was significant, bringing together representatives from more than 40 countries to discuss global peace initiatives, including reconstruction efforts in Gaza and international stabilisation forces.
How users reacted
Social media users quickly seized on the clip, with many questioning Trump’s alertness during his own high-profile event.One user wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “Trump humiliates himself, falling fully asleep during world leader speeches at his own ‘Board of Peace’ meeting. He must be bored of peace.”Another commented, “This is absolutely humiliating on the world stage. Trump does not have the stamina to remain president.”Others mocked the viral moment more bluntly. “Trump asleep, again. The swaying is a dead giveaway,” one user posted, while another wrote, “Bored of Peace? He’s too old to be president.”The video added to a series of recent instances where Trump appeared visibly fatigued during official meetings and public events.
Trump has dismissed past sleep claims
This is not the first time Trump has addressed such incidents. Responding to similar footage from a cabinet meeting last year, Trump denied falling asleep. “Some people said, he closed his eyes. Look, it got pretty boring,” Trump said. “I didn’t sleep. I just closed them because I wanted to get the hell outta here.” He also added, “I don’t sleep much.” The White House has previously said Trump remains in good health, noting that recent medical tests were preventative and showed strong cardiac condition. Officials also attributed visible bruising on his hands to aspirin use as a precaution against cardiovascular disease.At 79, Trump is currently the oldest serving US president, and his health has remained under public scrutiny.
What Trump said in the speech
Despite the viral moment, Trump used the meeting to announce major global peace and reconstruction initiatives.He said the United States would contribute $10 billion to support the Board of Peace’s efforts, particularly focusing on rebuilding war-affected regions such as Gaza.Trump also announced that nine countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kazakhstan, had pledged more than USD 7 billion toward relief and reconstruction.In addition, Indonesia, Morocco, Albania, Kosovo and Kazakhstan agreed to deploy troops or police forces to support stabilisation efforts, while Egypt and Jordan committed to training Palestinian security personnel.Trump also urged Iran to reach a diplomatic agreement on its nuclear programme, warning that failure to do so could have serious consequences.“We have to make a meaningful deal. Otherwise, bad things happen,” Trump said, stressing that nuclear weapons would undermine peace in the Middle East.He described the Board of Peace as a body that would work alongside and strengthen the United Nations, while promoting stronger global cooperation.
Major peace push overshadowed by viral moment
While the Board of Peace meeting marked a major diplomatic initiative involving dozens of countries, the viral video has drawn significant attention away from its announcements.The White House has not directly commented on the specific clip, but officials continue to emphasise Trump’s active role in international diplomacy and ongoing peace negotiations.
