While the rest of the world can’t look away as Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial opens in New York, the former president himself appears far less captivated by the proceedings.
Jury selection began Monday in the first-ever criminal trial of a sitting or former president, as he faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments secrets from adult film star Stormy Daniels.
But, according to some court reporters, Mr. Trump appeared to be having trouble keeping his eyes open — and may even have fallen asleep at one point.
“Trump seems to be sleeping. His head continues to lower and his mouth relaxes. » New York Times reported journalist Maggie Haberman.
This observation quickly inspired a new nickname for the 77-year-old former president: “Sleepy Don.”
Soon, the nickname spread like wildfire on social media.
‘My theory: Trump’s legal team sedated him’ Mother Jones David Corn, DC Bureau Chief wrote on X.
“It looks like he’s old.” Judge Stops Sleepy Don From Taking His Nap,” Ron Filipkowski, Meidas Touch Editor-in-Chief. job.
The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump Super PAC, wrote that Mr. Trump had exhausted himself with his rants about social truth after the trial.
“#SleepyDon was angry late posting on Truth Social,” the account posted.
The former president’s apparent courtroom nap finally began to trend on X, with users flocking to the hashtag #DonSnorleonea reference to mob boss Don Corleone of the Godfather series. Others chose another pun for Mr. Trump: The Father of Nod.
Several other social media users joined in the joke.
“I prefer presidents who don’t fall asleep before lunch break with their money going to a porn star’s trial for election interference,” one user said. mocked.
“If Sleepy Don has too little energy to stay awake during the first day of his criminal trial, does he even have the stamina to be president?” another wrote.
“’Sleepy Joe’ is (a) projection, like everything else,” reports the Republican voter count against Trump. job.
Others made jokes about Trump ally Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, with a person Tweeter: “Where is the My Pillow guy when you need him?”
“A special consultant just showed up at the Trump trial,” says another. jobaccompanied by a photo of Mr. Lindell.
The nickname comes after Mr. Trump proudly referred to his 2024 rival, Joe Biden, 81, as “Sleepy Joe” ahead of the 2024 election. Today, the former president also carries a label of lethargy and weariness.
Mr. Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records relating to so-called secret payments made before the 2016 election to pay adult film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for silence about an alleged affair.
She claims the affair happened in 2006 – just a year after Mr Trump married Melania, now his wife.
Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Speaking on CNN, Ms Haberman also noted that falling asleep in the middle of a trial was not necessarily unusual for Mr Trump.
“There were other times in other trials, like the E Jean Carroll trial… where he seemed very still and appeared to be sleeping,” she said.
“His jaw kept dropping to his chest and his mouth remained relaxed,” she continued.
Although people sometimes fall asleep during court proceedings, “that’s remarkable given the intensity” of the trial, she said.
The Biden-Harris campaign retweeted the clip of Haberman speaking on CNN.
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