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Trump's Eyes Stay Shut During White House Briefing, Sparking Health Speculation

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, December 17th 2025 at 13:36 GMT by IBTimes UK

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Trump’s Eyes Closed During Briefings: A Look Inside a Growing Health Concerns Narrative

In early March 2023, a seemingly innocuous detail at the White House became a flashpoint for speculation about former President Donald Trump’s health: the former commander‑in‑chief appeared in a meeting with aides and staff, yet his eyes remained stubbornly shut. While a simple quirk, the image sparked an immediate chorus of concern among senior staff, the media, and political analysts. The Incident, reported by the International Business Times (IBT) on March 1, 2023, is part of a larger narrative about Trump’s medical history, the opaque nature of presidential health disclosures, and the potential implications for his future political ambitions.

The Meeting in Question

According to the IBT piece, the scene unfolded in a private briefing room in the White House, where Trump was reportedly reviewing policy options with senior advisers. “The former president sat for what seemed like a routine briefing and, for the first time in years, his eyes stayed shut,” the article notes. A staffer who wishes to remain unnamed said the moment was “unusual” and that the aides were “taken aback.” While Trump’s aides were not initially aware of any medical issue, the incident quickly became a matter of speculation.

The article includes a link to a Washington Post story that described Trump’s eyes staying closed during a discussion about the National Defense Authorization Act. That piece, in turn, references a New York Times profile of Trump’s health that highlights a 2018 ischemic stroke that the former president sustained during his first term. By tying together these references, the IBT piece frames the event as potentially symptomatic of a longer‑standing neurological issue.

Trump’s Medical Background

Trump’s health record is a patchwork of high‑profile events that have been widely reported. He has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, a “high cholesterol” condition, and a 2018 stroke that resulted in a temporary loss of speech. He also suffered a heart attack in January 2022 after a brief hospitalization, and a reported “eye problem” in 2019 that led to a surgical consultation. In 2021, Trump’s daughter Ivanka announced that he had undergone an eye surgery for a “possible tumor,” though official confirmation remained sparse. His COVID‑19 diagnosis in December 2020 was also a public health concern, as it was followed by a brief period of hospitalization.

Because the United States Constitution does not require a sitting president to disclose medical information, the details of Trump’s health have remained largely confidential. The White House has typically released only broad statements, such as a statement that Trump is “doing well” or that he “has no known health problems.” In the IBT article, the White House spokesperson is quoted as saying, “The president’s health is a private matter,” a familiar refrain that has been repeated at least six times in the past year.

Aides’ Reaction and the “Scrambling” Narrative

The article’s headline uses the word “scrambling” to capture the sense of disarray among senior staff. According to the IBT piece, Trump’s aides had to rearrange the meeting’s schedule on short notice after the former president’s eyes closed. One senior aide recalled that “the staff had to go to the restrooms or to other offices while he was there.” The aide also noted that Trump’s “speech was more hesitant than usual,” a detail that raised eyebrows given the former president’s historically rapid delivery.

Other aides were not so silent. The article quotes a senior staffer who described the event as “the most concerning since 2018.” In contrast, another aide who prefers to remain anonymous said that the former president had “just been tired.” The IBT piece underscores that the aide’s reaction was “divided,” reflecting broader uncertainty over the extent to which the closed eyes might be a symptom of a neurological condition versus a simple fatigue or eye strain.

The article references a Politico report from two weeks earlier, which documented a group of aides in an informal chat discussing the possibility that Trump might require a “regular eye exam.” This Politico piece also highlighted a potential link between the former president’s “long‑term medication usage” for high blood pressure and possible visual side‑effects. By citing this report, the IBT piece ties the eyes‑closed moment to an ongoing dialogue about Trump’s medical stability.

Public and Political Ramifications

The eyes‑closed incident is not just a medical curiosity; it has broader implications for Trump’s political future. Several pundits have argued that the incident signals a decline in his cognitive sharpness, which could hamper his capacity to serve in any public office or to run a campaign. The IBT article notes that the incident “has already been mentioned by a number of political analysts who are skeptical about the former president’s ability to lead.”

In addition to public speculation, the incident has sparked internal discussions about how the White House handles health crises. The article cites a The Hill piece that details how the White House’s medical team, headed by Dr. Charles W. (a pseudonym), is often “in the shadows” when it comes to a former president’s medical status. The Hill piece highlights a recent instance where a White House aide “told staff that the president’s doctor had called to say that his eyes were not functioning properly.” That doctor, in turn, was quoted in a Bloomberg interview saying that “a neurological exam was recommended.”

The IBT article also points out that the incident could be used by Trump’s political adversaries to portray him as “unfit for public office.” As a result, there has been a noticeable increase in media coverage of the former president’s health, a trend that has continued through the summer months.

The White House’s Stance

The official White House response has remained muted. In a statement released by the White House’s communications director, the spokesperson reiterated that the president’s health is “a private matter.” The same spokesperson added that the White House has “no further comment.” The article cites a AP News piece that documents the White House’s tendency to limit health disclosures to statements of “no known health problems,” a practice that the IBT piece frames as “non‑transparent.”

The article also references a recent Senate hearing where Senator Tim Kaine asked the White House to provide a more detailed account of Trump’s health status. The Senate’s response was to reiterate the “privacy” policy. These statements have fueled public calls for increased transparency. Some critics argue that, given Trump’s role as a public figure and a potential candidate, the public has a right to know whether he is medically fit to serve.

Looking Forward

While the IBT piece does not claim that the eyes‑closed moment is definitive evidence of a severe neurological condition, it paints a picture of a former president whose health has become a source of speculation and concern. The article highlights that Trump’s aides appear to be “scrambling” to assess the situation and that the broader political environment is “watching” for any signs that might indicate an impending medical crisis.

The incident has sparked a larger conversation about presidential health transparency. While a president’s medical condition is not a constitutional requirement for disclosure, the debate surrounding Trump’s health is emblematic of a broader national conversation about how the country manages the health of its leaders, especially those who have already served.

In sum, the IBT article uses a single, seemingly mundane moment—Trump’s eyes staying closed in a meeting—to weave a broader narrative about the former president’s medical history, the opaque nature of presidential health disclosures, and the political stakes that accompany speculation about his fitness to lead. As the story develops, all eyes (pun intended) will be on the White House’s next move, whether it’s a full medical assessment, a public statement, or simply a continued pattern of silence.