U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend an observance ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon in 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
President Donald Trump spoke at the Sept. 11 memorial ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday as families gathered to remember lost loved ones. Viewers couldn't help but notice that the president didn't look well.
During the 2025 event, Trump was photographed with one side of his mouth appearing to droop down. Critics accused him of dozing off at the event.
So, during the ceremony on Friday, Trump was under increased scrutiny. Observers believe they saw a similar facial drooping again.
"He does not look good," said Forbes columnist Mark Joyella. "He must know he can't doze off during a 9/11 ceremony, but it appears to be one hell of a struggle."
Others questioned whether Trump had, in fact, dozed off. Daily Beast reporter Leigh Kimmins McManus was one of those who posted a photo saying Trump "appears to be asleep" during the speech from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The New Republic's deputy editor, Adrienne Mahsa Varkiani, posted a video of the moment showing that if Trump was blinking, his eyes were closed for more than 15 seconds.
"See how Melania seated next to him seems fully awake while he isn't even moving," she wrote on X.
"Guy can’t even keep his eyes open at the 9/11 ceremony," Podcast host "BostonBrian" wrote.
Influencer Lucas Sanders questioned, "Donald Trump's face appears to droops as he attends the 9/11 ceremony this morning at the Pentagon[.] Is he suffering from a stroke?"
"Looks like a neurological issue," said Army veteran and former Republican Drew Rogers. "Yet another 'What if Biden?' moment for Trump. He’s in much worse physical or mental shape than POTUS Biden ever was, yet the media will not talk about it. That’s a big problem."
An anonymous legal commentator recalled the double standard with Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "Lest we forget the week long news cycle in 2016 when Hillary, fighting off pneumonia, sat at the NYC memorial for almost 90 minutes in hot and humid conditions and then got a little light headed on her way out of the event. Trump dozed off today? You'll never hear about it."
The influencer account "Wu Tang is for The Kids," posted a photo of the president, mocking the White House claims that Trump was merely "blinking."
Another took photos of Trump slumped with his eyes closed and contrasted it with a photo of former President Joe Biden standing with his hand over his heart.
Bloomberg News reporter Gerry Doyle captured a headline reading "25 Years After 9/11, Trump Personifies a Nation Moving On."
Others recalled that in 2020, the Trump administration was found to have drained the 9/11 fund that was meant for first responders.
Trump has been falling asleep at the 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon all morning
See how Melania seated next to him seems fully awake while he isn't even moving pic.twitter.com/3a2Pfxl0dn
— Adrienne Mahsa Varkiani (@AdrienneMahsa) September 11, 2026