CELEBRITY
The nickname was “Sleepy Joe.” The standard should apply to everyone
The nickname was “Sleepy Joe.” The standard should apply to everyone.
Donald Trump spent years using Biden’s supposed lack of energy as a political punchline. Now, images and footage of Trump appearing tired during official events invite the obvious question: where did all that concern about presidential alertness go?
There is a difference between appearing drowsy and proving someone is asleep. Short clips and still photographs can leave out important context. One widely shared Oval Office clip, for example, did not conclusively show Trump sleeping when examined alongside the longer footage.
That does not erase the irony. It means criticism should focus on what the evidence actually shows, rather than inventing a claim that he sleeps through every meeting or press conference.
Voters deserve consistent expectations of their leaders, regardless of party. The same behavior should not become a scandal for one president and an excuse-filled nonissue for another.
If Biden had appeared in these images, what would Trump have called him?
Does the “Sleepy Joe” crowd still believe alertness matters—or only when the president is a Democrat?