US President Donald Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday, June 8.
However, from the start, his participation remained controversial due to increased security risks and the cancellation of public after-parties.
But the latest incident totally stole the limelight.
The 79-year-old was caught on camera dozing off at one of the most exciting games in Madison Square Garden. The video quickly went viral with thousands of reposts and shares.
The video clearly shows Trump closing his eyes for an extended period as he sat next to Knicks owner James Dolan.
This shows a pattern of apparent drowsiness during public appearances, as Trump has also been seen dozing at several events before.
Days earlier, Trump was also seen slumped in his chair in the Oval Office, struggling to stay awake. In response to this incident, the White House representative claimed that he simply “blinked”.
Trump doesn’t seem to get a full night’s sleep, evident not only by his repeated dozing off incidents, but also by his late-night behavior. The President is seen repeatedly posting between 9:00 PM and 6:00 PM, suggesting severe sleep deprivation.
Repeated dozing for a 79-year-old, especially during high-stimulus events such as the NBA Finals, is not considered normal aging.
Medical experts suggest several possibilities, including chronic severe sleep deprivation, an undiagnosed sleep disorder known as sleep apnea, medication side effects, or impaired cardiovascular function that causes microsleeps.
Trump’s medical condition is also unclear, as White House officials have not released detailed results from Trump’s most recent physical, which took place at Walter Reed.
At the NBA Finals, Trump was also greeted by loud boos during the national anthem. He later claimed that the reception was “mostly cheering”.
The NBA Finals ended with a Spurs victory 115-111, although the Knicks still lead the series 2-1.
