Footage shows Trump appearing to doze at White House event, draws expert scrutiny

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — Video circulating online shows U.S. President Donald Trump struggling to keep his eyes open during a White House event, repeatedly closing his eyes, leaning back in his chair and appearing to wake from brief moments of dozing. Trump, who is 80, signed an executive order and took questions at the program, which was attended by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other senior officials. Geriatric care specialist Adam James, who is not Trump's physician, said the footage suggested signs of dementia, including what he described as "sundowning," a pattern of increased confusion and behavioral changes late in the day common among dementia patients. James also suggested that disruption to the brain region governing the sleep-wake cycle could explain Trump's apparent drowsiness, and raised the possibility that stimulants such as Adderall or Provigil were being used. Medical experts not involved in the video's analysis noted that dementia cannot be diagnosed from video alone and requires clinical examination and specialist assessment. James acknowledged that he has never examined Trump directly and does not serve as his personal doctor. The White House has previously pushed back on similar footage, saying Trump was not sleeping and that the videos had been taken out of context.