Donald Trump has doubled down on claims he ‘doesn’t sleep much’ after being caught on camera appearing to be asleep during a recent meeting.
During this week’s visit from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the president was asked by reporters how he manages his time and workload, a question previously posed to his foreign guest.
After mentioning Trump’s previous comments about bin Salman’s sleeping habits during a previous visit to Saudi Arabia, a reporter asked: “How do you manage your own time and what’s your formula for management?”
“He does not sleep much, and I don’t sleep much. I think we have the same schedule," Trump responded. "Thinking about our countries."
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"If you sleep a lot and you're president … no, he's not a sleeper, I'm not a sleeper, what else?"
Trump, who frequently used to criticize his predecessor Joe Biden for ‘sleeping all the time’, then continued: "We talk at night ... I can call him almost anytime," even, by his own admission, at 'the craziest times.'
"When you love your job, when you love your country, and when you're in a position like we are … you're thinking about your country," he added. "He thinks about his country, and I think about my country. I don't want to sleep."
Trump’s insistence that he doesn’t sleep much may come as a shock to many, after he was previously caught on camera appearing to be taking a nap during his visit to Saudi Arabia in May.
In a clip shared by The Daily Beast, Trump was videoed with his eyes closed during the special ceremony, and even more recently was again spotted with his eyes closed on November 6, during an announcement about reducing the price of weight loss drugs.
However, despite claims online that the president was asleep on the job, the White House has strenuously denied any accusation that Trump fell asleep during the televised meeting.
"The President was not sleeping; in fact, he spoke throughout and took many questions from the press during this announcement which represents a historic reduction in prices for Americans on two drugs that help Americans struggling with diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and other conditions," the scathing official response claimed.
When questioned by journalists at the time about why the president appeared to be asleep, a tense statement was given to CNN, which stated: "This announcement by President Trump will save a significant amount of money and countless American lives, and yet the failing, liberal media want to push a garbage narrative instead of covering it.”
Topics: Donald Trump
Phoebe Tonks