President Donald Trump, 79, is fuming over mounting media scrutiny of his apparent physical and cognitive decline, with sources close to the president revealing he has spent days obsessing over negative coverage comparing him to his predecessor Joe Biden, whom he famously dubbed “Sleepy Joe.”
The president’s anger reached new heights this week after footage emerged of him appearing to doze off during a Cabinet meeting, triggering a fresh wave of reports from major outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN. Sources familiar with internal discussions say Trump was left seething as the coverage snowballed on Dec. 5, 2025.
According to a Trump adviser, the president’s sensitivity to the comparisons runs deep. “He is sensitive to being compared, even if not explicitly, to Sleepy Joe,” the adviser said. “Especially if it’s coming from a reporter he already hates.”
The negative press coverage of Trump’s health angers him more than almost any issue other than the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, sources close to the elderly president told Zeteo. Trump will fixate on offending news outlets or coverage for several days, according to those familiar with his behavior.
Media attention has focused on multiple concerning signs, including Trump appearing lethargic during world leader meetings and persistent bruising on his right hand. The president has used heavy concealer to hide the bruising, which he has not publicly explained. Trump has also been spotted with swollen ankles and displayed a drooping expression at September 11 ceremonies.
On Sept. 29, Trump incorrectly remembered when his first presidential term began during a joint White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In another instance on Sept. 22, Trump made false claims that the Amish and Cuba have no autism during a White House announcement, while also mispronouncing acetaminophen.
The White House has repeatedly defended Trump’s condition, pointing to a July 17 medical report diagnosing him with chronic venous insufficiency. Officials described this as a benign and common condition often seen in older individuals, in which leg veins insufficiently push blood back to the heart. Trump was taking aspirin as part of his health regimen.
Trump underwent a surprise medical check on Oct. 10, 2025, at Walter Reed Medical Center, described by aides as routine though no details were initially released. The visit lasted four hours, leading former physicians to question the timeline. Trump received an MRI in October and said the test was “perfect.” He also received his flu shot and a COVID-19 booster vaccine during the visit.
Following the Walter Reed visit, Trump’s physician Dr. Sean Barbabella released a statement declaring the president in “exceptional health” with a cardiac age 14 years younger than his chronological age. However, the medical report made no mention of the swollen ankles and persistent bruising that had been documented in numerous public appearances.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump in a statement, insisting the president “remains in excellent overall health” and attacking the media for its coverage. “President Trump’s relentless work ethic, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in sharp contrast to what we saw during the past four years when the failing legacy media intentionally covered up Joe Biden’s serious mental and physical decline from the American people,” Leavitt said. “Pushing these fake and desperate narratives now about President Trump is why Americans’ trust in the media just fell to a new all-time low.”
One Trump adviser who discussed the matter with him characterized the president’s reaction by saying Trump complained the press was back on “this bullshit again” about his health and mental fitness. The adviser’s comments reflect Trump’s growing frustration with the sustained attention on his physical condition.
The scrutiny comes as Trump, the oldest person ever inaugurated as U.S. president, faces increasing questions about his fitness for office. Media outlets that had previously downplayed concerns about his health have now begun following the lead of publications that had been documenting his apparent frailty for months.
The president’s health has become a focal point in Washington, with Robert Kennedy Jr. serving as HHS Secretary and frequent discussions about Trump’s medical condition dominating insider conversations. Despite the White House’s repeated assurances about the president’s excellent health, the visible signs of physical decline continue to generate widespread concern and media attention.
Trump’s anger over the coverage shows no signs of abating, with sources indicating he remains particularly sensitive to any comparisons with Biden, whose age and mental acuity Trump made central campaign issues. The tables have now turned, with Trump facing the same scrutiny he once directed at his predecessor.