Donald Trump has a new nickname: Dozy Don. The name comes after he was seen struggling to keep his eyes open in the Oval Office. The Washington Post timed him nodding off for nearly 20 minutes during an event announcing lower prices for weight-loss drugs. While less damaging than the “Dirty Don” label from Jeffrey Epstein emails, it highlights concerns about his energy and stamina.
Trump’s legendary vigor has been central to his political persona. His 2020 campaign continued even after he contracted COVID-19, and he recovered from last year’s assassination attempt. These events reinforced the image of a seemingly indestructible leader. Yet, as he approaches 80 next July, questions about his ability to maintain the same level of energy are unavoidable.
Political weakness adds to these concerns. Trump has fought to avoid the “lame duck” label through sheer force of will and by threatening critics in his own party. But even the strongest show of power cannot fully counter the effects of age or diminishing political influence. Makeup, hand bruises, or assurances from his doctor that he has the cardiac age of a 65-year-old may hide signs of aging, but voters know the realities of growing older.
Some advisers suggest Trump tour the country to energize supporters, focus on the economy, and emphasize affordability. This follows recent losses in gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey and the rise of young left-wing leaders like Zohran Mamdani, 34, now mayor of New York. Polls show only a third of voters approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, health care, and the federal government, while 62 percent disapprove overall, according to an Associated Press/NORC survey.
A White House official told CNN that voters cannot be convinced that their own experiences at home are not real. This reality, combined with the demands of a campaign-style tour, presents a significant challenge for a president of his age.
MAGA loyalty is also showing cracks. Critics argue that Trump has prioritized his foreign policy legacy and a Nobel peace prize over the America First agenda that energized his base. His recent meeting with Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa drew public criticism from former strategist Steve Bannon, who said, “If you’re going to have the President of Syria, that’s fine. Next one’s domestic. One Syria, next one’s domestic.”
Concerns about the Trump family’s finances continue. Reports from the Center for American Progress indicate up to $1.8 billion in cash and gifts since the 2024 election. Meanwhile, an interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News highlighted growing skepticism among supporters. Trump insisted that costs were way down and dismissed contrary reports as fake polls or a con job by Democrats. Ingraham pressed him, asking, “So you are saying voters are misperceiving how they feel?”
Trump also proposed lowering housing costs through 50-year mortgages, reflecting a perspective shaped by his personal experience leveraging debt to build his fortune. These proposals reveal a disconnect from the realities facing average Americans, reinforcing criticisms that he is detached from everyday concerns.
Trump remains a master at shaping perception and creating an alternative reality for his supporters. Yet some truths are unavoidable. When voters’ own experiences conflict with a politician’s promises, the question is who they will believe: Trump or their own eyes. For the president, staying awake both literally and politically has never been more important.
