Despite the White House’s insistence that President Donald Trump, 80, remains as mentally sharp as ever, videos publicly shared by members of his own team appear to tell a different story. In response to some criticizing Trump as appearing tired or sluggish during appearances, Trump representatives say he has “unmatched energy.” Trump’s increasingly haggard appearances on the campaign trail are causing speculation about whether he’s equipped to continue in his role.
While on his ongoing rally tour ahead of the midterm elections, Trump has appeared less than enthused. Video footage shared by his aides contradicts the White House’s narrative and is seemingly exposing a reality the White House would rather keep out of view: a president who appears increasingly weary as the political stakes rise. The very aides responsible for showcasing his appearances are inadvertently drawing attention to his apparent exhaustion.
In one telling moment, Trump spokesperson Danielle Alvarez, who documented the president’s Tuesday visit to Texas, shared footage of Trump motioning toward the stage at his rally in Corpus Christi. Rather than projecting the energy and command his campaign needs, the clip offers a glimpse of a president whose fatigue is hard to deny.
In the video shared by Alvarez, Trump walks slowly as his arms dangle at his sides while he looks down. Alvarez panned the camera to the cheering crowd of Trump supporters before turning the camera back to Trump, who patted his right leg before grabbing the railing and making his way up the stairs to the podium. White House press assistant Kieghan Nangle shared additional footage of the president. At one point, he appears to pick up steam but quickly loses it and is seen leaning on the podium and taking a deep breath before continuing with his speech. In another video shared by Alvarez, Trump took nearly 20 seconds to walk down a short flight of stairs after delivering his speech.
Trump ally and MyPillow founder Mike Lindell said he, too, noticed Trump’s lack of energy, describing it as something he couldn’t ignore. “He looked about as tired as I’ve seen him,” Lindell said when asked about the president’s condition during a Zoom interview with grassroots MAGA supporters, shared online last week by independent journalist Aaron Rupar. “I don’t wanna say the word down.”