Reiner also commented on a separate Oval Office event at which Trump appeared to doze off multiple times. Noting that Trump has appeared to fall asleep during several events in recent weeks, including a cabinet meeting in which he was being directly addressed, Reiner noted that such “daytime somnolence” could be caused by a number of health conditions, such as sleep apnea. “It’s jarring to see the president go from basically asleep in the Oval Office to really, you know, this rapid-fire pace during basically a 30-minute speech he gave in 18 minutes,” Reiner said, saying, “No one should be happy to see that.”

Growing concerns about Trump’s health

These recent appearances in which 79-year-old Trump was notably agitated or struggling to stay awake have only added to speculation about his health and fitness. Similar concerns about President Joe Biden, ironically highlighted by a stumbling debate performance against Trump that was co-moderated by Tapper, led to Biden dropping his reelection bid. Now Trump, who is poised to surpass Biden as the oldest president in United States history by the end of his term, has seen increasing speculation about his own health. These concerns have been exacerbated by a lack of transparency over unusual bruises seen on Trump’s hand as well as confirmation that the president has undergone a series of MRI exams and cognitive tests, which usually indicates suspicion of some serious medical condition.

While Trump and those around him publicly claim he is in great health, the president’s actions and demeanor seem to be telling a different story. Facing a lack of transparency from the White House concerning Trump’s health, observers like Reiner will continue to search for clues as to what might be ailing the president and how his health concerns will impact his ability to perform the nation’s top job.