US President Donald Trump appeared to close his eyes and lower his head during an Oval Office event on Monday, 28 September 2026, after referring to former President Joe Biden as 'Sleepy Joe'. The moment occurred during an event announcing Mesabi Metallics' proposed $15 billion (£11.3 billion) steel plant in eastern Iowa.
The footage shows Trump sitting with his eyes closed while Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick spoke. However, it does not establish that he fell asleep or was unresponsive.
Trump's Closed Eyes Prompt Online Speculation
The footage circulated online after Trump criticised Biden during the event. Social media users interpreted the brief moment differently, with some claiming the president had nodded off while others said the video showed only that his eyes were closed.
Harry Sisson shared footage of the moment on Instagram, according to reporting by MEAWW News. The post presented the clip as evidence that Trump had fallen asleep after calling Biden 'Sleepy Joe'.
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However, the wording attributed to Sisson should be treated cautiously unless verified against the original post. Claims that Trump had done this 'like the millionth time' were not independently established in the material reviewed for this article.
The available footage shows Trump's eyes closed and his head angled forwards while other officials spoke. It does not confirm how long his eyes remained closed or whether he was asleep. Nor does it establish that the moment reflected a medical issue.
Trump later answered questions from reporters. His replies are quiet and brief, although that characterisation remains an interpretation of the footage and audio rather than a medical assessment.
A short video can document visible conduct, but it cannot independently determine a person's state of consciousness. The available footage does not conclusively establish whether Trump fell asleep.
The event's stated purpose was the announcement of a proposed steel mill in Iowa. Mesabi Metallics, a Minnesota-based company owned by India's Essar Group, is behind the project.
It was reported that production is expected to begin in 2030, although that remains a future target rather than a guaranteed opening date. The plant is projected to have an initial annual production capacity of 7.5 million tons, potentially rising to 10 million tons once fully developed.
The project is also expected to create at least 1,750 permanent jobs, according to figures reported. Separate estimates put the number of construction jobs at up to 6,000. Those figures are projections, not confirmed employment totals.
Trump used the announcement to highlight his administration's industrial and trade policies, describing the project as a 'tremendous investment' and claiming that the US steel industry is 'roaring back to life'.
The footage, rather than the project's financial details, quickly became the focus of online discussion. That reaction reflects the speed at which brief clips can overtake the policy announcements surrounding them.
What Trump Has Said About Sleep
Questions about Trump's sleep habits have appeared in public reporting for years. In January 2018, then-White House physician Ronny Jackson told reporters that Trump slept about four to five hours a night.
'He's just one of those people, I think, that just does not require a lot of sleep,' Jackson said. The estimate came during a White House press briefing and was not presented as the result of continuous monitoring.
That statement provides background, but it does not explain the 28 September incident. A person's reported sleep routine cannot establish whether they were asleep during a particular public appearance.
The latest clip has also prompted renewed speculation about Trump's health. That speculation remains unverified. The reviewed material does not provide a medical statement linking the footage to any condition, nor does it establish that the president experienced cognitive impairment or a health episode.
No specific White House response to the footage was identified in the reporting reviewed for this article. The fact-checking report concluded that the claim Trump definitely fell asleep remained unconfirmed.
What can be reported is narrower. Trump appeared to close his eyes and lower his head during an Oval Office event connected to the proposed Iowa steel plant. Whether he was asleep remains unclear.
