Immediately after returning to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on October 30 from a three-country tour of Asia, President Trump went straight to the White House to attend a Halloween candy-giving event for children. His packed work schedule earned him praise from supporters for his stamina and resilience.
“This man hasn’t rested for days!” Eric Daugherty, content director at Florida’s Voice, commented on X. But a week later, during an Oval Office event on November 6, Trump appeared to doze off in front of the cameras.
Photos released from the event show the 79-year-old president sitting in an armchair at the Resolute Desk with his eyes shut, while business leaders around him spoke about weight-loss medications. At times, he seemed to struggle to keep his eyes open and occasionally rubbed them, showing clear signs of fatigue.
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The images contrast with his efforts to present himself as vigorous and energetic, despite being the oldest sitting president in U.S. history. Observers say such moments suggest that age may be starting to weigh more heavily on the American leader. Questions about Trump’s health have drawn attention since 2017, when he was the oldest president ever to take office, but concerns have consistently been met with minimal response, even during his 2020 Covid-19 infection.
On April 11, shortly after beginning his second term, Trump underwent a routine checkup at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, where doctors described his health as “excellent.”
In October, the White House released a letter from Sean Barbabella, the president’s physician, following Trump’s second medical exam of the year. Barbabella asserted that the president had “excellent overall health,” with a cardiac age 14 years younger than his actual age. “He is able to maintain a demanding work schedule without any limitations,” the doctor wrote.
However, recent analyses from U.S. media, based on Trump’s public schedule compiled by Roll Call—a nonpartisan publication on U.S. politics—suggest signs that age may be affecting his day-to-day activities.
The American public has seen less of Trump recently compared with the same period during his first term. His public events have become fewer and shorter. He travels domestically less often, though he has taken four more overseas trips than he did in 2017.
In 2017, Trump’s events began at an average of 10:31 a.m. and ended after 5 p.m. This year, the average start time has shifted to 12:08 p.m. The number of events he attends has dropped 39%, from 1,688 in 2017 to 1,029 this year.
According to a source familiar with White House operations, the president usually arrives at the Oval Office after 11 a.m. This habit dates back to his first term, when he complained about overly packed morning schedules. Instead, he spends what staff call “executive time” in the presidential residence before beginning his formal workday.
Jeffrey Kuhlman, White House physician from 2000 to 2013, noted that Trump’s work schedule differs markedly from his predecessors George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who took office at ages 54 and 47, respectively. Bush arrived in the Oval Office at 6:45 a.m. daily, while Obama typically began work around 10 a.m. and continued until 7 p.m. or later.
Kuhlman believes Trump’s aides are attempting to shape the image of an active president, but says that when Trump is in the Oval Office, he is “mostly just sitting.” He did note, however, that the president still prefers taking the long staircase when boarding Air Force One.
“American presidents generally try to present the best possible picture of their health,” said Matthew Dallek, a political historian at George Washington University. “Those around Trump are now doing what Biden’s aides did—crafting a narrative to obscure the reality that Trump is 79 and among the oldest people ever to serve in the Oval Office.”
Trump has also fueled doubts about his health by mentioning certain medical procedures without providing details. During his Asia trip, he revealed that he had undergone an MRI earlier in October, though Dr. Barbabella made no mention of this in his report.
“I don’t know what they analyzed,” Trump recently said when asked again about the MRI. “But they did a great job, and I had the best results they’ve ever seen.”
Clinical psychologist John Gartner told The Daily Beast Podcast that Trump’s confusing statements—along with his recent tendency to mix up country names, such as claiming he diffused tensions between “Iran–Pakistan, Azerbaijan–Albania” (he meant India–Pakistan and Azerbaijan–Armenia)—suggest possible “cognitive decline.”
A YouGov poll in September showed that many Americans also believe Trump is showing signs of cognitive and health decline. That figure has risen to 49%, up from 40% in a survey conducted before the 2024 presidential election, with independent voters showing the most significant shift in perception. In response to questions about Trump’s health, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the president and criticized former President Biden.
“Unlike the previous White House, which hid Biden from the press and concealed his cognitive decline, President Trump and his team have always been open and transparent about his extraordinary health,” Leavitt said.
Trump, meanwhile, routinely references Biden whenever the topic of age comes up. At 83, Biden is the oldest living former U.S. president. Trump has long mocked him as “Sleepy Joe” for lacking energy and continues to use the nickname.
“He’s always sleeping—day, night, or on the beach,” Trump said. “But I’m not the sleepy one.”