Kathrine Frich
Commentators wasted no time mocking the situation.
The internet loves a good conspiracy.
When political leaders attend long meetings, the cameras catch every heavy eyelid and awkward pause.
Now, a strange new rumour is spreading rapidly online about what happens behind the scenes.
Slumping in the chair
President Donald Trump recently sat in the Oval Office to sign an executive order on childhood vaccines. Beside him stood his former Director of Correspondence, Jayme Leagh Franklin.
Footage of the meeting shows the president slumping in his chair, seemingly struggling to stay awake. Soon after, he suddenly jolts upright.
Social media users quickly focused on Franklin, who touched her chest right before the president snapped to attention.
A wild theory
This timing sparked a strange claim on the platform X, as reported by The Irish Star. One user alleged that Franklin “has a button fitted on her belly and when she gets the nod that he’s asleep she moves her hand and presses a button that wakes him.”
Another person added to the rumour, posting, “They’re calling her The Zapper.” They admitted they had no proof but felt the footage matched the theory.
There is no evidence that Franklin played any role in keeping the commander-in-chief awake. The White House has previously stated that the president does not sleep during meetings, but is merely taking a very long blink.
Poking fun online
Commentators wasted no time mocking the situation. One user joked it was “just the ultimate Sleepy Joe Karma.”
Another person wrote, “Imagine spending years talking about ‘sleepy Joe Biden’ and then doing this every time you have to listen to someone else talk for 5 minutes.”
Before the viral moment, the president made several unusual comments about medicine. He argued that young children should not receive multiple shots in one day.
Vaccine size claims
Trump stated, “And I saw this early on, and I’ve seen proof of it. Where they have a vaccination, that looks like the size of a bottle of soda poured into a little child’s body, and bad things happen on many occasions, too many cases.”
Standard vaccine doses for infants are actually about 0.25 millilitres. That amount is roughly equal to five drops of water.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer shared the video online and strongly criticised the president.
Schumer wrote, “The ramblings of an insane person. No parent should listen to him or RFK Jr. when it comes to vaccinating their child.”
Sources: The Irish Star, X, Chuck Schumer, The White House
