Dozing Off at NBA Finals… Age Controversy Surrounding Trump Reignites – 아시아경제
Dozing Off at NBA Finals… Age Controversy Surrounding Trump Reignites
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Economic Content Platform for Investors
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by Lim Juhyeong
Published 15 Jun.2026 19:06(KST)
U.S. President Donald Trump, who is approaching his 80th birthday, was recently seen appearing to doze off at an official event, reigniting the debate over his advanced age.
On June 12 (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that President Trump was photographed with his eyes closed while seated during the finals of the National Basketball Association (NBA) held in New York.
At the time, he was also spotted eating fast food such as French fries and pizza, and it was reported that he arrived at the White House after 2 a.m. following the game. After the WSJ’s report, the White House denied claims that President Trump dozed off during the game, arguing that it only appeared that way due to the camera angle. The White House also explained that the bruises on his hand were the result of shaking hands with numerous people.
U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to be dozing off during a sports game. Photo captured from X.
In connection with this, the WSJ analyzed that President Trump has begun managing his public image as his 80th birthday approaches. The outlet argued that, just as former President Joe Biden faced similar concerns over age, Trump is now seeking to reinforce a healthy and energetic image.
President Trump is continuing his public schedule from the White House, directly responding to questions from reporters and remaining active on social networking services (SNS).
However, the WSJ pointed out that this increased exposure has actually intensified the controversy. Recently, Trump has been seen making memory-related mistakes, such as confusing Greenland with Iceland and misnaming the Strait of Hormuz. The WSJ also reported that he has recently mixed up examples of regional conflicts in his explanations.
When Trump took office, he was already 78 years and 7 months old, making him the oldest president in U.S. history. The WSJ reported that he has been experiencing health issues including hearing loss, skin changes, and edema in his lower limbs, but has refused some treatments.
Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt addressed these concerns by emphasizing that President Trump maintains the physical stamina and focus necessary for state affairs. She claimed that his participation in a busy schedule and Q&A sessions is proof of his ability to perform his duties, adding that he has held more than 20 meetings and phone calls per day on average over the past two weeks.
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