Trump Eyes Closed at Maternal Health Event

President Donald Trump appeared with his eyes closed for several seconds during an Oval Office event on maternal health on May 11, 2026, prompting viral speculation and a sharp rebuke from White House social media accounts.

The gathering, which began at 11 a.m., featured Trump alongside Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Republican Senator Katie Britt, philanthropist Olivia Walton, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Dorothy Fink. Participants discussed the launch of Moms.gov, a new website aimed at supporting maternal health initiatives. Video clips and photographs from the event, including one shared by Reuters national security correspondent Idrees Ali, showed Trump seated with his eyes shut and head slightly slumped while others spoke. One widely circulated clip captured the moment lasting approximately 17 seconds.

The White House's Rapid Response 47 account responded directly to Ali's post, which carried a neutral caption describing the event, by stating, "He was blinking, you absolute moron." Officials maintained that Trump was simply blinking, a defense that quickly drew backlash online. Democratic Representative Ted Lieu...