Trump’s Health Under Scrutiny Amid Oval Office Video and Hand Bruise
A viral clip of the president asleep at his desk and a visible bruise have reignited debate over his fitness for office, with calls to invoke the 25th Amendment.
A video of Donald Trump appearing to fall asleep during a meeting in the Oval Office has gone viral, prompting an Iranian‑American congresswoman to demand the president be removed from office under the 25th Amendment. Yassamin Ansari, who represents Arizona, declared that Trump “is sick and must be removed,” calling the episode a national security crisis. The footage, which shows the president’s head slumping and his eyes closing while aides discuss coal policy, has earned him the nicknames “Commander‑in‑sleep” and “Sleepy Trump” on social media. It is the latest in a series of incidents that have put the 78‑year‑old’s health at the centre of American political discourse.
Meanwhile, a photograph of a dark bruise on the back of Trump’s right hand, taken during a press appearance in Wisconsin, has sparked fresh alarm. The image, circulated widely in Russian media, shows a reddish‑blue discolouration and pronounced veins. White House officials attributed the mark to frequent handshakes and aspirin use, but scepticism persists. The journalist who shared the image, Aaron Rupar, suggested the explanation did not hold up, noting the bruise’s severity.
Italian outlets have added another layer to the health mystery, reporting that a hair‑loss prevention drug, finasteride, which Trump was previously said to take regularly, has vanished from his latest medical records. The apparent omission, combined with his third scheduled medical visit in 13 months, has fuelled speculation about undisclosed conditions. Italian coverage framed the missing drug and the sleeping video as twin triggers for a renewed debate over presidential transparency.
Viewed from Washington, the convergence of these narratives is politically explosive. The White House has long treated Trump’s physical vigour as a political asset, and any perceived weakness can be weaponised by opponents. In Tehran, the reaction from an Iranian‑American lawmaker underscores how Trump’s health is seen as a geopolitical vulnerability. The 25th Amendment, which provides for the removal of a president unable to discharge his duties, has rarely been invoked, but Ansari’s call reflects a growing unease. Analysts in London note that the bruise, the suspected dozing, and the missing medication form a pattern that tests the credibility of official reassurances. The episode also revives memories of past health scares, including Trump’s hospitalisation for Covid‑19 in 2020. If public confidence in the president’s stamina erodes, it could reshape both domestic politics and international perceptions of American leadership.
How the same story is told elsewhere.
Russian media picked up a photo of a bruise on Trump's hand during a Wisconsin event, circulated by Western journalists, framing it as the latest sign of the president's health issues. Detailed descriptions of the discoloration and bulging veins, sourced from American outlets, imply a physical condition far from robust.
Italian press highlights viral videos of Trump seemingly falling asleep in the Oval Office, reviving doubts about his health and his communication strategy built around physical vigor. The disappearance of a hair-loss drug from his medical records is paired with these episodes as further evidence of an alleged physical decline, with mocking nicknames like 'Commander-in-sleep' spreading online.
Iranian regime-aligned media amplify statements by Iranian-American congresswoman Yasmine Ansari, who publicly declared that Trump is ill and must be removed under the 25th Amendment, calling it a national security crisis. The president's health is cast as a self-evident emergency demanding his immediate removal, in step with Tehran's adversarial stance toward the U.S. administration.
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