By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Footage of Donald Trump appearing to close his eyes during an Oval Office announcement sparked criticism and fueled concerns about his stamina. The event involved an announcement on reducing prices for weight-loss drugs, where Trump was observed with his eyes closed or struggling to keep them open. Critics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office, quickly seized on the images, while the White House defended the president, emphasizing his active role in the announcement and other recent activities. Despite regular public appearances and the White House’s assertion of his energy, questions about Trump’s health persist, especially given his age and previous diagnoses.
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Images of Trump appearing to close his eyes during Oval Office event spread across social media, and it’s difficult not to be struck by the sheer audacity of the framing. “Appearing to close his eyes” – it’s a phrase that feels almost comically cautious, a linguistic tightrope walk designed to avoid any potential legal entanglement. The reality, as those images clearly show, is that his eyes were closed. Period. There’s no room for ambiguity. It wasn’t a blink. It wasn’t a fleeting moment. It was a prolonged period of closed eyelids. To suggest otherwise feels like an active effort to sanitize the truth, to soften the blow, and to tiptoe around the elephant in the room – or, in this case, the napping former president in the Oval Office.
The choice of words is telling. It’s a reflection of a media landscape that’s seemingly terrified of being labeled “fake news,” a label that has been wielded with such devastating effectiveness by the very person in question. It’s like saying the sun “appears to rise” – technically correct, but missing the forest for the trees. The images aren’t merely “appearing” to show something; they *are* showing something. They are documenting a physical state, a moment of repose that, regardless of the underlying reason, is undeniably present. It makes one wonder about the tests and MRIs; is there something else going on?
The focus on the wording is also a symptom of a deeper problem: the unwillingness to fully confront the obvious. The article seems to be more about what is missing than what is there. It touches upon, yet is unable to dig into the fact that the man, the former president, was asleep. There is a palpable sense that the media is giving Trump a “white glove treatment”, something that feels even more absurd in light of all the controversies surrounding him. “Appearing to close his eyes” provides MAGA with a get-out-of-jail-free card. He was simply blinking, the argument goes, and the photo captured an unfortunate moment. It’s a disingenuous dodge.
The core issue is that it raises serious questions about his fitness for any public role. While some might dismiss this as a minor incident, the broader context – the rumors of cognitive decline, the alleged health issues, the historical precedent of erratic behavior – elevates it to something far more significant. Is this a sign of fatigue? Is it the result of medication? Is it an indication of a more serious underlying condition? These are questions that deserve to be asked, not swept under the rug with carefully chosen phrases. The public deserves transparency, not euphemisms.
The fact that these images are spreading virally on social media, yet not appearing on the major news outlets, speaks volumes. Why the hesitancy? Is it fear of retribution? Is it a reluctance to alienate a segment of the population that still supports him? Or is it simply a case of editorial timidity? Whatever the reason, the result is the same: a failure of journalistic integrity. The media needs an overhaul, and some sort of honesty doctrine.
The response to this incident also underscores the broader political landscape. It highlights the deep divisions, the partisan animosity, and the sheer exhaustion that has come to define our current era. It seems to be the new CNN. Some believe the media is complicit in covering it up. The headline feels like a part of a dictatorship. He should be shamed for it, especially when the person they are reporting on calls them fake news. It’s a situation where the truth gets lost in the fog of denial, partisan point-scoring, and carefully crafted narratives. The irony is, Trump himself is the one who benefits from this type of framing. It allows him to claim victimhood, to portray himself as a target of relentless persecution, and to further erode trust in the media.
Ultimately, this is not just about a few closed eyes. It’s about a failure of the media to hold powerful figures accountable, a failure to report the truth without fear or favor, and a failure to serve the public interest. It is journalism in 2025. This could be the biggest sneak peak at a presidential death mask!