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The saga of President Donald Trump falling asleep in the Oval Office continues, this time while he was signing an executive order to reclassify the status of marijuana on Thursday.
Trump was seated at the Resolute Desk when his neck dropped, and his eyes closed several times, before jerking himself awake.
He was surrounded by medical professionals in white coats and military veterans, among others.
- President Trump dozed off multiple times while signing an executive order to reschedule marijuana in the Oval Office.
- The executive order downgraded marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, facilitating more research and medical use.
- Trump appeared drowsy during recent events, fueling public and media scrutiny over his health and alertness.
- California Governor Newsom mocked Trump’s drowsiness with satirical posts calling him 'Dozy Don' and 'Grandpa is tired.'
Trump seemed to doze off while signing an executive order
Image credits: The White House/X
The president looked droopy as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mehmet Oz, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, addressed the administration’s rescheduling of marijuana.
At times, he seemed to be nodding along mindlessly.
The executive order, signed by Trump, was to reschedule marijuana to a lower drug classification.
Trump is getting heavy eyes pic.twitter.com/LFWoElz1EC
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 18, 2025
It would enable more research to be conducted on the drug and expand its medical applications. It downgrades marijuana from a Schedule I drug, a category within which heroin and LSD fall, to a Schedule III drug, the same category as ketamine and testosterone.
“We have people begging for me to do this. People who are in great pain,” Trump said from the Oval Office.
Marijuana is still banned for recreational use at the federal level.
Image credits: The White House/YouTube
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who regularly trolls the president, did not miss this opportunity. “NAP TIME FOR THE BIG GUY,” Newsom’s press team wrote on X.
The press team followed it up with another post saying, “SEND IN THE ADULTS!!! GRANDPA IS TIRED.”
In another post, the press office said, “DOZY DON STRIKES AGAIN!”
Trump, who has called his predecessor Joe Biden “Sleepy Joe,” has now been dubbed “Dozy Don” by Newsom.
Trump has been caught shutting his eyes several times during White House events recently
NAP TIME FOR THE BIG GUY https://t.co/N2X9jkoGWm
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) December 18, 2025
Talking about the medical professionals in white coats at the signing ceremony, the press team said, “Is Trump finally getting the medical attention he needs?”
Democratic influencer Harry Sisson also took to X to comment on the situation, “Trump falling asleep in the Oval Office again while an event is taking place. It’s so obvious to everyone that this guy is not well. 25th Amendment now.”
The 25th Amendment to the Constitution allows the vice president to succeed the president in the case of removal.
This is not the first time Trump has been captured falling asleep. At the Cabinet meeting on December 2, Trump’s eyes fluttered as he appeared to fall asleep several times.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that the president was “listening attentively.”
Trump’s “Sleepy Joe” branding came with an on-camera promise he’d never be caught sleeping. The internet specializes in remembering. pic.twitter.com/xSx8eC3Re2
— Lesley Abravanel 🪩 (@lesleyabravanel) December 13, 2025
Earlier in November, during an event at the Oval Office, Trump’s eyes had grown heavy, and he closed them for several seconds. Last year, reports showed Trump had fallen asleep in court during his criminal trial in New York.
His drowsiness followed his criticism of a recent New York Times story that examined Trump’s alleged declining health. It claimed the 79-year-old’s “vigor” has “declined in recent months.”
The article also noted that Trump’s official appearances have decreased by nearly 40% and they are starting later in the day during his second term.
Trump had slammed the NTY story, saying, “Trump is sharp.” At another point, he said he thinks he is sharper now than 25 years ago.
photos of Trump sleeping through yesterday’s Oval Office event via Andrew Harnik of Getty pic.twitter.com/zurDLxkFVt
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 7, 2025
There has been an increased scrutiny of Trump’s health in the past few months, after the president regularly shows signs of bruising on his hands and swollen ankles, and has cancelled public appearances.
Many people, including Trump’s niece, have claimed the president is showing early signs of Alzheimer’s.
Trump had scheduled a press event for Thursday evening to sign the National Defense Authorization Act, but the public signing of the bill was cancelled 30 minutes after it was supposed to start.
Trump has claimed that he got “PERFECT Marks” on his medical examinations done earlier in October, which included an MRI scan for his cardiovascular system and abdomen.
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