At a Glance
- Jimmy Kimmel aired a 40-second montage of Donald Trump appearing to sleep during meetings
- Trump told The Wall Street Journal he’s “blinking,” not napping
- Kimmel dubbed him “Teddy Dozevelt” and mocked the idea of minute-long blinks
- Why it matters: The late-night bit keeps the spotlight on Trump’s stamina questions as staffers also deny he dozes off
Jimmy Kimmel turned Trump’s latest interview claim into late-night gold, rolling footage of closed-eye moments after the president insisted photographers simply catch him mid-blink.
Kimmel’s New Montage
Kimmel ended his January 7 monologue by telling viewers the 79-year-old “has enough trouble staying awake.” He then introduced the clip reel showing Trump with eyes shut beside Marco Rubio, during a session with Mohammed bin Salman, and at several press events.
> “Teddy Dozevelt told The Wall Street Journal that… You know those many videos of him nodding off during meetings? He says he’s not sleeping, he’s blinking. That’s right, he has the rare ability to hold a blink for minutes at a time.”
The bit marks Kimmel’s second round of “sleepy” jokes after a similar segment on December 2.
White House Pushback
Trump, Susie Wiles, and Karoline Leavitt have all rejected the napping narrative:
- Trump: cameras catch him “blinking” and closing his eyes is “very relaxing to me”
- Wiles: he’s “fine” with eyes closed and head back
- Leavitt: Trump ran a “three-hour marathon Cabinet meeting” and stayed attentive
The president also told the paper he skips regular workouts because “it’s boring,” opting against long treadmill sessions.
Award-Show Jab
At the January 4 Critics’ Choice Awards-where Jimmy Kimmel Live! won Best Talk Show-Kimmel thanked “Donald Jennifer Trump” for supplying daily fodder. The show returned from a six-day suspension earlier in January after a contentious 2025 filled with social-media sparring between host and president.
Key Takeaways
- Kimmel’s January 7 segment is his third show of 2026 and second montage targeting Trump’s shut-eye moments
- Trump maintains he’s awake, calling prolonged blinks “relaxing”
- Staff continuously defend Trump’s focus during lengthy meetings
Expect the late-night host to keep “Teddy Dozevelt” in his rotation as long as cameras keep catching the president in repose.
