Sleep expert explains 'devastating' health impact of Donald Trump's sleep schedu
Sleep expert explains 'devastating' health impact of Donald Trump's sleep schedule
A sleep expert has warned that Donald Trump's chronic sleep deprivation could have a 'devastating' impact on his cognitive function and brain health
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Add us as preferred source Comments By Maria Leticia Gomes 19:00, Thu, May 28, 2026 Updated: 09:00, Wed, Jun 3, 2026 Sleep expert warns Trump's public 'naps' 'could be a national security issue'
A sleep expert has flagged alarming concerns over Donald Trump's health after analysing recent reports of the President apparently dozing off during a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington Cemetery earlier this week.
Reports of Trump's alleged 'naps' are nothing new, with many news outlets claiming the President has nodded off during speeches, events, and meetings in the Oval Office.
"In many high-performing settings, from elite athletes to military operations, strategic naps are used to restore cognitive decline," said sleep expert and experienced coach Tom Coleman. However, he made clear this was not the situation with the President. "The real concern here is chronic sleep deprivation combined with enormous responsibility and an ageing leader."
Coleman drew particular attention to the President's well-documented habit of getting remarkably little sleep, reportedly just 4-5 hours per night.
Coleman explained: "Trump has repeatedly framed minimal sleep as a competitive advantage, a sign of toughness and evidence of a superior work ethic and energy," reports the Mirror US.
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"It's part of a broader mythology of hustle culture and a view that sleep is somehow a weakness, laziness or a waste of time. The truth, however - and by truth, I mean repeatable, validated scientific evidence would suggest or maybe even prove - is that the opposite is true."
Coleman agrees the role of US President is undeniably gruelling, and "one that destroys the possibility of good quality sleep on many different levels" owing to constant travel, time zone disruption, overnight security briefings, stress hyperarousal, campaign rallies, massive cognitive load "and combine that with ageing physiology, relentless public scrutiny, and a cavalier or macho attitude to the importance of sleep".
For this reason, he says, "it's no wonder sleep crept in, even at the most inappropriate time."
Yet innocent naps during lengthy speeches are merely the tip of the iceberg — Coleman explains how "chronic cortisol levels, sleep fragmentation from hypervigilance and an inability to adequately recover have to have a devastating impact on our cognitive and emotional faculties, and it erodes our ability to accurately assess any situation."
In broader terms, sleep deprivation increases impulsivity, diminishes risk assessment accuracy, hampers strategic thinking and narrows perspective — with sleep specialists frequently drawing comparisons between sleep deprivation and the effects of alcohol impairment.
He explained: "Would you be OK with getting on a flight where a captain has had a few drinks? Or maybe your surgeon has taken a few stiff drinks to steady his nerves pre-surgery. Ask any parent if a lack of sleep affects emotions. It amplifies reactivity, reduces frustration tolerance, increases anger response and heightens threat perception."
This becomes particularly concerning when the person in question leads one of the world's most powerful nations.
Coleman said: "This is because [sleep deprivation] weakens prefrontal cortex control over the amygdala. Executive reasoning is overwhelmed by the primordial emotional part of the brain, which is responsible for vigilance and detecting danger. International diplomacy requires patience, restraint and emotional stability, and this is what good quality sleep delivers.
"Many of us are aware of the restorative powers of sleep, but few understand how profoundly it transforms the brain. As sleep cycles progress, we spend less and less time in deep sleep,, where all physical restoration occurs, and more and more time in light sleep, where the vast majority of cognitive and emotional restoration occurs.
"Sleep research suggests that if you miss out on your last 90-minute sleep cycle, you could be missing out on as much as 40% of the emotional and cognitive restoration that occurs in your last sleep cycle."
He added that "nobody is immune to this effect. Sleep is one of the few biological necessities that money, status and power cannot negotiate with, without consequence."
Coleman warns the president's public napping episodes "could well be a national security issue," before proposing a potential remedy, given that such involuntary dozing represents the brain forcing rest upon an exhausted mind.
He went on to say: "Dare I say, let him nap. Some of the most powerful drivers of restful sleep are natural light and physical activity, so I think it's good news for the geopolitical landscape and for Trump if leading sleep experts are recommending more golf and more sleep for the President."
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
