President Donald Trump unexpectedly shortened a White House cabinet assembly on Thursday, January 29, 2026, addressing recent speculation about his apparent drowsiness during extended governmental meetings. The session concluded after merely one hour and twenty minutes—a notable contrast to previous gatherings that extended beyond three hours.
Trump openly acknowledged the tedious nature of these meetings, describing them as ‘pretty boring’ while vehemently denying allegations of sleeping during proceedings. ‘I just closed them because I wanted to get the hell out of here,’ he stated during his 25-minute introductory address, clarifying that eye-closing was merely a response to boredom rather than actual sleep.
The president’s approach to cabinet meetings has drawn comparisons to North Korean-style leadership displays, with officials traditionally competing to praise his administration. However, Thursday’s session notably excluded Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who faces mounting criticism over immigration agents’ fatal shooting of a protester in Minneapolis.
This development occurs amid growing concerns about the 79-year-old president’s vitality—the oldest individual ever elected to the Oval Office. Trump has consistently dismissed questions about his energy levels, recently attributing his tired appearance to what he called ‘boring as hell’ cabinet meetings in a New York Magazine interview.
In an unusual departure from standard protocol, the president declined to entertain press questions following the meeting, avoiding potential inquiries regarding Noem’s situation or escalating military threats toward Iran.