President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign is mocking former President Donald Trump as “Sleepy Don” after reports emerged that Trump fell asleep multiple times during his New York criminal hush-money trial. Trump, who is expected to face Biden in a rematch in November, pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts related to hush money paid to adult-film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. The Biden campaign has seized on Trump’s courtroom naps to turn the tables on the former president, who has previously referred to Biden as “Sleepy Joe” and questioned his fitness for office.
Multiple reporters and courtroom observers noted that Trump appeared to doze off on all but one of the first four days of his trial. The Biden campaign released a press statement titled “Verdict’s In: Sleepy Don Has a Nightmare Week,” highlighting the president’s recent campaigning in Pennsylvania and endorsement by the Kennedy family before mocking Trump for using his trial to catch up on sleep. Campaign spokesperson James Singer criticized the Trump campaign’s strategy as ineffective, claiming that their focus on not campaigning, wasting money, and pushing an extreme agenda is driving voters away. Singer emphasized that the Biden campaign is attentive to the needs of voters for a strong economy, protected rights, and a president focused on problem-solving.
In response to the reports of Trump falling asleep in court, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed the claims as “fake news” from a reporter who was not actually in the courtroom. Cheung attempted to shift attention to Biden’s alleged propensity for falling asleep at meetings and tripping over his own feet. However, New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman, who observed the trial from an overflow room with a clear view of Trump’s face, confirmed that the former president appeared to be asleep during proceedings. The Biden-Harris campaign shared Haberman’s observations on social media, labeling Trump as “feeble and tired” for napping in court.
Despite the denials from the Trump campaign, reports of Trump falling asleep during his trial have become a focal point of ridicule from the Biden campaign. The ex-president’s courtroom naps have bolstered the Biden campaign’s characterization of Trump as unfit for office, mirroring Trump’s own criticisms of Biden’s cognitive abilities. As Trump prepares to face opening arguments in the hush-money trial, the Biden campaign continues to mock him as “Sleepy Don,” emphasizing the stark differences in focus and energy between the two candidates. The ongoing clash between the two political rivals highlights their contrasting styles and approaches to campaigning.
