Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the House Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday that he has never seen President Donald Trump fall asleep.
The exchange occurred during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The testimony highlights ongoing scrutiny regarding the president's stamina and mental acuity during official government proceedings.
Rep. Ted Lieu asked Rubio whether he had ever witnessed the president fall asleep during meetings. Rubio said he denied the allegation and attempted to correct the record.
"That's false. I've never seen him fall asleep," Rubio said [1].
Despite the denial, reports indicate that video footage was presented during the hearing shortly after the statement. This footage appeared to show the president dozing off during a Cabinet meeting [2]. One specific video highlighted the president's appearance at age 79 [3].
Rubio continued to maintain his position during the questioning, stating again, "I have never seen him fall asleep" [2]. The contradiction between the secretary's testimony and the video evidence played during the session became a focal point of the committee's inquiry.
While Rubio defended the president's alertness, the presentation of the clips by committee members served as a direct challenge to the administration's narrative regarding the president's performance in high-level meetings.
“"That's false. I've never seen him fall asleep."”
This incident underscores the tension between executive branch testimony and visual evidence during congressional oversight. By presenting video that contradicts the Secretary of State's claims, committee members are attempting to establish a record of cognitive or physical decline, which could lead to further inquiries into the president's fitness for duty.
