Donald Trump mocked Joe Biden as “Sleepy Joe” on Monday, September 28, 2026, then appeared to close his eyes and nod off during a White House event announcing a proposed $15 billion steel plant in Iowa. The timing gave the clip an instantly awkward political punchline. Trump was criticizing Biden’s record on steel and manufacturing when he claimed that nearly 200,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared during the year before Trump returned to office. While Energy Secretary Chris Wright spoke later in the ceremony, cameras showed Trump seated behind the Resolute Desk with his eyes closed and his head angled toward an open binder. The Sleepy Joe Setup Came Back Fast Trump has repeatedly used Biden’s age and energy as political ammunition, making the footage especially easy to circulate online. A similar moment drew attention in August, when Trump appeared to drift off while Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at a separate White House gathering. Trump has denied that closed eyes during official meetings mean he is sleeping. After another Cabinet meeting sparked questions, Trump said he had only shut his eyes because he wanted to leave and insisted that he does not sleep much. The steel announcement still carried major economic projections. Mesabi Metallics plans to use iron ore from its Minnesota mine for the Iowa facility, with officials forecasting 1,750 permanent jobs, up to 6,000 construction jobs, and initial steel production in 2030. India’s Essar Group owns the company, while the Trump administration presented the project as evidence that American manufacturing is surging back.