Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) on Wednesday raised concerns on Capitol Hill that President Donald Trump's reported sleeping difficulties could constitute a national security issue. Speaking amid ongoing worries about Trump's cognitive health and fitness for office, she urged attention to the matter.
A Call for Oversight and Transparency
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm about a grave national security threat, Donald Trump’s sleeping habits,” Kamlager-Dove said while displaying an image of Trump appearing to sleep during a meeting. She emphasized that she would adhere to decorum but stressed the seriousness of the situation. “I know we have rules about decorum, so I will stick to the facts, because this is, in fact, a serious matter of oversight, transparency, and national security.”
The California congresswoman argued that the public cannot rely on official White House statements regarding the president’s health. “In meeting after meeting, Donald Trump has fallen asleep in public, on camera, in broad daylight, when people lavish praise on him,” she continued. “We cannot trust the White House on matters concerning the president’s health because they are denying what Americans are seeing with our own two eyes.”
Allegations of Misleading Statements
Kamlager-Dove directly called out Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what she described as “seemingly lying” to Congress last week. Rubio had testified that he never witnessed Trump sleeping on duty, despite video evidence showing the president dozing off next to him. During a June 3 House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Rubio claimed Trump “doesn’t sleep, which is a big problem.”
“We cannot have a president asleep on the job. Is he sleeping in classified briefings, on calls with foreign leaders? How can we trust a president who is literally asleep at the wheel to make informed decisions about national security?” she questioned. She cited an April YouGov poll indicating that 48% of Americans believe Trump is experiencing modest to significant cognitive decline.
Erratic Decisions and Health Transparency
Kamlager-Dove pointed to Trump’s “erratic decisions,” including his unusual social media activity and the controversial war in Iran. “He is posting AI on Truth Social at ungodly hours of the night. He is hyper-fixated on his billion-dollar ballroom and a $1.8 billion slush fund for political allies instead of ending his war of choice on Iran and lowering costs for Americans,” she said. She added, “Sadly, the White House has repeatedly failed to be transparent with the American people about the president’s health.”
Trump has consistently denied any sleeping problems, explaining that footage of him appearing to nod off in public meetings was simply him resting his eyes or blinking. He also dismisses claims of cognitive or physical health issues, asserting that his health and stamina for office remain strong.
