Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel offered a novel defense for President Donald Trump appearing to doze off during a recent Cabinet meeting, invoking the sleep habits of inventor Thomas Edison.
A Defense Rooted in Historical Precedent
During an appearance on Laura Ingraham's program on Tuesday, Siegel addressed footage showing Trump with his eyes closed for several seconds as Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke. This followed an incident early last month where Trump was caught napping at a White House event.
Siegel referenced Thomas Edison, stating the inventor "believed in the 10-minute nap." He rhetorically asked, "What would they say? We wouldn't have electricity, right?" It is worth noting that Edison invented an early version of the incandescent light bulb, not electricity itself.
Dismissing Cognitive Concerns as Political Strategy
Prior to his Edison comparison, Siegel argued that President Trump appeared "extremely sharp" and framed the focus on his brief eye closure as a political maneuver. He characterized it as a "bait-and-switch" tactic from critics who he claims are unhappy with Trump's own focus on President Joe Biden's use of an autopen.
The analyst also dismissed ongoing questions about the president's health stemming from a recent MRI. "This is a disgrace because we don't need to see President Trump passing cognitive tests, as you just said, he passes one every single day," Siegel contended. "Every single moment, going in and out of press conferences. I've never seen anything like it, actually."
Ingraham Joins the Defense
Host Laura Ingraham echoed Siegel's dismissive stance, suggesting the president's demanding schedule is to blame. She noted Trump's recent social media posting spree, which lasted hours until nearly midnight, followed by another post at 5:48 a.m.
"I'm not a big sleeper either. So, you know, on occasion, I close my eyes if someone is talking for too long, I admit it. But big deal. I mean, the results speak for themselves," Ingraham said. She added, "What President Trump does on a daily basis. If you sleep three hours or four hours a night, you're probably going to close your eyes, whether you are 79 or 49. I don't think that matters."
The segment on Fox News framed the scrutiny of the president's momentary eye closure as an overreaction from political opponents, deflecting from substantive policy discussions to focus on a brief, and arguably common, human behavior.
