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POLITICS
Donald Trump

Photos show President Trump appearing to doze off again at work

Portrait of Natalie Neysa Alund Natalie Neysa Alund
USA TODAY
Updated Dec. 3, 2025, 11:43 a.m. ET

New photos show President Donald Trump appearing to doze off during a Cabinet meeting.

The footage, shot at the White House on Tuesday, Dec. 2 during his ninth Cabinet meeting, comes after Trump lashed out at the New York Times last week over a report about his energy levels.

It also comes after a Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds that found Trump spent about 20 minutes fighting to keep his eyes open at a recent Oval Office press conference.

Multiple photos shot by Reuters and Getty show Trump's eyes apparently struggling to stay open on more than one occasion, sometimes completely shut during the meeting.

Other major news outlets also reported they watched Trump appear to nod off during the meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and others.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 2, 2025.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt released a statement to USA TODAY on Wednesday, Dec. 3, saying Trump "was listening attentively and running the entire three-hour marathon Cabinet meeting."

Trump's actions come after his frequent public "Sleepy Joe" remarks about former President Joe Biden, who was 82 when he left office.

Trump turns 80 in June.

Photos show Trump with his eyes closed during Cabinet meeting

President Donald Trump attends a meeting of his Cabinet alongside (L-R) U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in the Cabinet Room of the White House on December 02, 2025 in Washington, DC.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 2, 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 2, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet Meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on Dec. 2, 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 2, 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 2, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

What was discussed at Trump's Cabinet meeting?

During Tuesday's meeting, Trump slammed Democrats for complaining about inflation after claiming prices have fallen for products including gasoline and groceries.

"The word affordability is a con job by the Democrats," Trump said Dec. 2.

In recent months, Trump has insisted his administration is bringing down some prices and slowing inflation, USA TODAY previously reported.

But according to information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of some food has increased.

Overall, food prices have increased and food-at-home costs have risen over the last year, according to the BLS.

This story has been updated to add new information and a video.

Contributing: Reuters

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund

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