American President Donald Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday June 8.
However, from the start, her participation remained controversial due to increased security risks and the cancellation of public after-parties.
But the latest incident totally stole the show.
The 79-year-old was filmed dozing off during one of the most exciting matches at Madison Square Garden. The video quickly went viral with thousands of reposts and shares.
In the video, it is clearly seen that Trump closed his eyes for an extended period of time while sitting next to Knicks owner James Dolan.
This shows a pattern of apparent sleepiness during public appearances, as Trump has also been seen dozing at several events previously.
Days earlier, Trump was also seen slumped in his chair in the Oval Office, struggling to stay awake. In response to the incident, the White House official said he was “just blinking.”
Trump does not appear to get a full night’s sleep, which is evident not only from his repeated incidents of sleepiness, but also from his behavior in office late at night. The president is repeatedly seen on duty between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., suggesting severe sleep deprivation.
Repeated sleepiness in a 79-year-old, especially during high-stimulation events such as the NBA Finals, is not considered normal aging.
Medical experts suggest several possibilities, including severe chronic sleep deprivation, an undiagnosed sleep disorder called sleep apnea, medication side effects, or reduced cardiovascular function causing microsleeps.
Trump’s health status is also unclear, as White House officials have not released detailed results of Trump’s most recent physical exam, which took place at Walter Reed.
During the NBA Finals, Trump was also greeted with loud boos during the national anthem. He later claimed the reception was “mostly cheers.”
The NBA Finals ended with a 115-111 Spurs victory, although the Knicks still lead the series 2-1.
