As Tuesday's White House Cabinet session extended beyond two hours, President Donald Trump's eyelids drooped shut. His budget chief occupied himself by sketching a puffy cloud. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who had the good fortune to present his remarks early, found the lettering on his identification plaque incorrect.
TL;DR
- President Trump appeared to fall asleep during a Cabinet meeting that lasted over two hours.
- Budget chief Russell Vought was seen sketching a landscape on official White House stationery.
- Secretary Pete Hegseth's nameplate had an error, and he justified a vessel attack by referencing the "fog of war."
- President Trump announced he did not want Somalis in the U.S. and that this was the final Cabinet meeting until 2026.
Despite its lethargic and sometimes careless nature, the assembly concluded with a burst of announcements. Trump proclaimed that he didn’t want Somalis in the U.S. And Hegseth referenced the “fog of war” to justify a subsequent attack on a vessel purportedly transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea during September.
The commander-in-chief commenced by remarking that this was the final occasion his executive department would convene until the year 2026. And, although extended meetings with his principal advisors, showering accolades, have become a hallmark of Trump's tenure since his return to the executive mansion, this most recent assembly seemed, at moments, to indicate a need for a festive recess.
Trump provided extensive initial remarks that mostly reiterated his significant policy declarations from the preceding months. He also brought up past complaints, tracing back to his falsehoods about having won the 2020 election.
‘Go quickly’
The president then permitted each member of the Cabinet to share their thoughts, announcing, “We’re gonna go quickly.” This did not significantly deter the majority of Cabinet officials from delivering lengthy discussions.
Hegseth spoke first, commending the Trump administration's decision to rechristen his department the Department of War—a change requiring congressional approval to be official. However, the nameplate displayed before Hegseth identified him as the “ssecretary of war,”, featuring an erroneous duplicate “S” that rapidly drew intense online mockery.
Subsequently, as each dignitary addressed the gathering, a television camera focused on Trump revealed him having difficulty remaining awake. The commander-in-chief was seated back in his seat, his eyelids frequently falling and at times closing entirely.
Trump's apparent fatigue came after he criticized a recent New York Times report that looked into his daily activities and endurance at 79 years old. During Tuesday's session, Trump once more attacked the Times report and even spoke of himself in the third person to guarantee everyone present that “Trump is sharp.”
Budget director Russell Vought provided another sign of the slowdown, as he was observed drawing a pastoral landscape on official White House stationery.
Vought depicted peaks encircled by firs, crowned with the sort of amiable clouds that public television icon Bob Ross often included in his tranquil scenic artwork. The director of the budget also drew an arrow beneath his mountain. Its intended direction remained ambiguous.
Clashing affordability messaging
While Trump's directives to maintain fiscal restraint were disregarded, certain Cabinet officials also went against the president's stance in their discussions concerning the matter of cost.
During his initial statements, Trump specifically labeled the worries voiced by Democrats regarding escalating expenses as “con job.” Nevertheless, numerous prominent figures within his administration proceeded to thoroughly explain their efforts to lower prices across the country.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins discussed the financial strains affecting farmers, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described affordability as a “crisis,”. Additionally, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner highlighted that numerous Americans purchasing their first homes demonstrated the administration's progress toward enhancing affordability.
The concluding speaker was Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who addressed the audience for a few minutes and admitted: “I know I’m last, so I wanted to be fast. But there’s a lot to cover.”
In total, the meeting on Tuesday extended beyond two hours. This duration was less than the record set by Trump's Cabinet meeting: a lengthy session in August that went on for an impressive three hours and 17 minutes.
Nevertheless, even the commander-in-chief conceded that the recent discussion was extending beyond its scheduled time. “We’re spending a lot of time in here,” he stated.
Trump concluded by fielding inquiries from journalists, but only after humorously posing the question, “After that, do you WANT to ask any questions?” He also gestured towards a reporter with a boom microphone to record audio from The Cabinet session and good-naturedly proposed, “How strong are you?”
“You’ve been holding that for two hours,” the president continued, drawing laughs from Cabinet members. “There are very few people who could do that. I’m very proud of you.”
A newsy QA
Reporters’ questions shook off the doldrums.
Hegseth stated he didn't observe any survivors in the water when the second attack on the vessel near Venezuela was authorized and executed in early September. He mentioned “the thing was on fire” and referenced the “fog of war” to justify the events. Furthermore, he indicated he “didn’t stick around” for the rest of the September 2 operation after the first strike.
When asked a subsequent question, Trump announced his opposition to Somali immigrants entering the U.S., suggesting that individuals from the conflict-ridden East African nation ought to remain in their country and work towards its improvement. He further alleged that Somalis were excessively dependent on American assistance initiatives, providing minimal contributions to the United States in exchange.
His Cabinet responded with cheers, although the questioning concluded suddenly as reporters were quickly escorted from the premises. Trump marked the end by striking the table twice with his hand, moving his chair back, rising, and patting Hegseth's shoulder.
