President Trump Appears to Nod Off During Vaccine Executive Order Event

President Trump presided over an afternoon signing of an executive order on childhood vaccines in the Oval Office, accompanied by senior officials. As Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. delivered his remarks, the president’s eyes repeatedly shut and he slumped forward. When NIH director Jay Bhattacharya spoke, Trump placed his hands on the desk, leaned forward and kept his eyes closed for several seconds at a time.

Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller’s remarks were similarly punctuated by Trump’s head resting against the chair back. The president briefly sat upright between speakers but his attempts to stay awake waned as the meeting progressed. The entire proceeding lasted a little more than forty minutes, ending with a brief Q&A after the order was signed. This is not the first instance where Trump has been seen dozing during Oval Office events.