Donald Trump Insists He’s ‘Not a Sleeper’ After Photos of Him Closing Eyes in Oval Office Go Viral

Donald Trump says he doesn’t get much sleep — even as recent viral photos show him appearing to close his eyes during high-profile events in the Oval Office.

While taking questions from reporters alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Nov. 18, Trump, 79, was asked how he manages his time as president.

Referencing Trump’s past comments about bin Salman’s late-night schedule during a visit to Saudi Arabia, one reporter asked, “How do you manage your own time and what’s your formula for management?” according to a clip shared by Forbes.

“He does not sleep much, and I don’t sleep much, I think we have the same schedule,” Trump replied. “Thinking about our countries.”

“If you sleep a lot and you’re president … no, he’s not a sleeper, I’m not a sleeper, what else?” Trump continued, after criticizing former President Joe Biden, 82, for sleeping “all the time.”

Describing his relationship with bin Salman, Trump added, “We talk at night … I can call him almost anytime,” noting that the pair speak at “the craziest times.”

“When you love your job, when you love your country, and when you’re in a position like we are … you’re thinking about your country,” he said. “He thinks about his country, and I think about my country. I don’t want to sleep.”

Trump’s remarks come after several moments this year where he appeared to have his eyes closed during official events. He was seen with his eyes shut during a special ceremony on his visit to Saudi Arabia in May, according to a video shared by The Daily Beast.

Earlier this month, he again appeared to close his eyes during a Nov. 6 announcement about cutting prices for popular weight-loss drugs, as reported by CNN.

During that same event, a man fainted in the Oval Office while Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks was speaking. Dr. Mehmet Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Trump’s administration, rushed over and caught the man.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later told reporters that the man was doing “okay.”

After the photos of Trump with his eyes closed circulated online, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told CNN that “the president was not sleeping.”

“In fact, he spoke throughout and took many questions from the press during this announcement which represents a historic reduction in prices for Americans on two drugs that help Americans struggling with diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and other conditions,” Rogers added.