Washington — President Donald Trump, who once derided former President Joe Biden as “Sleepy Joe” during his campaigns in 2020 and 2024, was recently captured on camera seemingly nodding off. These moments stand in stark contrast to the other old man involved: Biden.
Despite leading a nation for four years with an average age of nearly eight decades among his Cabinet secretaries under him, the narrative surrounding Trump’s recent fatigue doesn’t hold water when compared to reality. The 79-year-old president has overseen nine full Cabinet meetings this year alone—a testament to his administration functioning without incident despite his apparent tiredness on camera. Meanwhile, the Biden camp often highlights its own former leader who presided over a presidency hampered by age and infirmity.
When media outlets like DealBook recently questioned Trump’s fitness for office during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting—prompting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to counter with a point about the lack of media scrutiny regarding the diminished capacity of Biden—he wasn’t just dodging questions. He was demonstrating his own remarkable stamina, holding lengthy meetings and engaging in robust administration activities.
Indeed, while some fret over Trump’s age during press conferences or events where he occasionally seems to battle fatigue, his record speaks for itself: nine Cabinet meetings under pressure, effective policymaking that has rolled back regulations—unlike the sluggish pace of a certain administration—and brokering complex international deals without losing focus. The man who famously declared “I didn’t have time to read all of those 38,000 emails” was also quick to dismiss concerns about his own cognitive abilities.
As for Biden? His presidency has been defined by periods where the media barely covered him—much like the lockdown campaign that preceded it—which raised serious questions early on. And while Trump faces scrutiny over his age and health in ways entirely absent from coverage of a predecessor, there’s no doubt who remains in command: Donald Trump himself.
—
Disclaimer: This article reflects the views of the author based on publicly available information. All facts are drawn directly from sources provided.