Former President Donald Trump’s first day of his historic criminal trial in New York took an unexpected turn as he appeared to struggle to stay awake, with some court reporters even claiming he had fallen asleep. The reports of his brief nap quickly spread on social media, leading to the creation of a new nickname for the 77-year-old online: “Sleepy Don.”
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel wasted no time in pointing out the irony of Trump falling asleep during his court appearance, especially considering Trump’s past attacks on President Joe Biden as “Sleepy Joe.” Kimmel humorously dubbed Trump as “Doze-O the Clown” and joked about the double standard that would exist if Biden had been the one caught napping in court.
Despite the denials from Trump’s campaign, the incident added a new layer of intrigue to the already high-profile trial. Trump is facing 34 felony counts for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He is also involved in two other criminal cases related to the 2020 election and retaining classified documents, all of which he denies.
As jury selection began, Trump made history as the first US president to go on trial. The trial promises to be a closely watched affair, with the former president’s every move under scrutiny. Whether the nickname “Sleepy Don” sticks remains to be seen, but it certainly added a humorous twist to an otherwise serious legal proceeding.