Trump Falls Asleep Onstage at September 11 Ceremony
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The gist
Trump appeared to doze off at the Pentagon's 9/11 25th-anniversary ceremony; the White House denies it, calling such claims lies.
Background
The ceremony marked 25 years since the September 11, 2001 attacks, with victims' names read aloud as Trump sat onstage alongside First Lady Melania Trump. Clips of the president with his eyes closed and head down circulated online, drawing commentary. The White House rejected the characterization, saying Trump was listening and remembering the victims. It is one of several occasions the 80-year-old president has appeared to be asleep on camera.
How it unfolded
- Sep 11, 2026At the Pentagon's 9/11 memorial, Trump appeared to doze off at multiple points, slumped in his chair with eyes closed and head hanging down, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Melania Trump, and Condoleezza Rice were awake.
- Sep 11, 2026The event marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks; Trump sat onstage as victims' names were read aloud.
- Sep 11, 2026Clips of the president dozing circulated online.
- Sep 11, 2026In his Pentagon speech, Trump said the U.S. salutes service members ensuring Iran will never have a nuclear weapon; Hegseth said the U.S. had "laid waste" to the world's most prolific state sponsor of terrorism.
- Sep 11, 2026After the event, Trump boarded a flight to Ireland, expected to spend the weekend at his Doonbeg golf course hosting the Irish Open.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- White House spokesperson said Trump was solemnly listening and remembering the victims, and that anyone claiming he was asleep is lying.
- Critics
- The New Republic's Malcolm Ferguson said Trump dozed off at multiple points and called it particularly inappropriate in front of victims' families on the 25th anniversary.
- Public
- Viral posts quoted by The Daily Beast said a "sleepy" Trump decided to nap at the Pentagon ceremony and called it "utterly embarrassing."
Still unverified
The White House denies Trump fell asleep, saying he was listening rather than sleeping and that claims otherwise are lies; the Beaverton piece is satire.