Kenneth Glad
The televised gathering drew attention after a brief moment circulated widely online. The images prompted criticism while leaving room for disagreement about what they actually showed.
President Donald Trump was shown with his eyes closed during a State Department roundtable in Washington, prompting renewed discussion about his public appearances.
According to the Irish Star, Trump attended the meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, mining industry representatives, investors and government officials.
During Rubio’s remarks, Trump can be seen sitting beside him with his hands together and his eyes closed for part of the exchange.
Clip draws online criticism
Republicans Against Trump, an anti-Trump account on X, shared the footage and described the moment as “embarrassing.” The account also called for use of the 25th Amendment.
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Trump has previously rejected similar claims about his behavior during televised meetings.
Earlier this year, he responded to criticism after another lengthy public appearance.
“Last time we had a press conference it lasted for three hours,” Trump said.
“And some people said ‘He closed his eyes!’ Look, it got pretty boring in all fairness.”
“But I didn’t sleep,” he added. “I just closed them because I wanted to get the hell out of here.”
Constitution sets higher bar
The 25th Amendment sets out procedures for situations in which a president may be unable to carry out the powers and responsibilities of the office, but calls made on social media have no legal force on their own.
Under Section 4, the vice president and a majority of the principal officers of the executive departments can formally declare that a president is unable to perform the duties of the presidency.
If the president disputes that declaration, the Constitution provides further steps for resolving the disagreement, including a potential role for Congress.
Other parts of the 25th Amendment have previously been used to temporarily transfer presidential authority during medical procedures, allowing the vice president to serve as acting president for a limited period.
Sources: Irish Star, X post
