Trump was in the midst of unveiling a controversial new health initiative when attention quickly shifted to something unexpected.
During a press conference on July 30, held at the White House, Donald Trump introduced his administration’s new plan titled “Make Health Technology Great Again.” The initiative, according to the administration, has gained support from over 60 healthcare and tech companies, all pledging to help make Medicare patient data more accessible.
But despite the ambitious announcement, it wasn’t the policy that sparked the most conversation online.
As Dr. Mehmet Oz spoke at the event, viewers couldn’t help but notice Trump appearing unusually drowsy—taking prolonged blinks and seeming visibly disengaged, which quickly became a talking point across social media.
Many on Reddit have pointed out that Trump repeatedly took shots at former President Joe Biden and gave him the unflattering nickname ‘Sleepy Joe’ at a dig at his mental capacity and mental sharpness.
Reflecting on this moment, one user commented: “He’s so mad when he has to sit through someone else talking you can see it on his face. But he softens a bit if he hears exaggerated flattering praise.”
Another joked: “It’s all about effort. He’s tired only because he’s not the one yapping. The dude has no problems tweeting all hours of the night.”
With another agreeing and commenting: “Dude spent like 6 years calling Biden ‘Sleepy Joe’ yet he’s the one who falls asleep every time he sits down.”
A fourth person added: “He’s old and spends his nights rage tweeting. Can we please elect someone that is 65 or less for f**ks sake.”
While another simply commented: “Oh dang. That’s crazy. Where are the Epstein files?”
While Trump and his administration said that their new private health tracking system will ultimately allow patients to more seamlessly track and share their medical records or data among doctors, hospital systems and health apps, it has already garnered some criticism.
For example, the Apple Health app, that can keep track of your daily step count and sleep, could access lab results from your doctor’s office, ultimately putting the information together, offering a fuller picture of your health.
Georgetown University law professor Lawrence Gostin, who specializes in public health, argued there were certainly privacy concerns with this move.
He said: “There are enormous ethical and legal concerns.
“Patients across America should be very worried that their medical records are going to be used in ways that harm them and their families.”
