The ex-president appeared to fall asleep during the first day of jury selection in his historic criminal trial—not a great look for someone who is constantly trying to project an image of vigor and energy in public.
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One sleep expert told The Daily Beast that he suspects Trump is not getting the right amount of shuteye and proper nutrition at this nerve-racking moment.
"Anytime we fall asleep in a stressful situation, those are indications that your brain is prioritizing it," Dr. Chris Winter, neurologist and sleep expert, said of the court.
"We live in a society where an individual who is able to fall asleep quickly and anywhere is a great sleeper. But someone who is able to fall asleep in jury selection is really someone who is at great risk and not an excellent sleeper.
"He has something wrong with the nature of his sleep."
Several reporters in the courtroom, including from The Daily Beast, saw the 77-year-old Trump seem to nod off for a few minutes during his hush-money payment trial in Manhattan as the defense and prosecution went about the laborious process of picking a jury
It sparked the trending hashtag #SleepyDonald on social media and was a reminder that it's rare for the public to see Trump for an extended stretch in which he does not control access or the environment—much less an overheated courtroom where progress can happen at a snail's pace. pace
"He might not have found jury selection stimulating enough to keep him awake," Winter said. "That indicates an issue in sleep amount or quantity. Even if he is getting enough sleep, there is something wrong with the quality of it.”
Trump did not address his snooziness in remarks as he left court Monday, and a spokesperson later issued a statement: "This is 100% Fake News coming from 'journalists' who weren't even in the court room."