Rubio brushes off Trump mental acuity concerns as ‘absurd’ and ‘ridiculous’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday strongly rejected suggestions that President Donald Trump had been falling asleep during Cabinet meetings, dismissing the claims as “absurd and ridiculous” during a congressional hearing as renewed questions emerge over the president’s health and fitness.

Appearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rubio was shown video clips in which Trump, 79, appeared to have his eyes closed while Rubio was speaking beside him. The footage prompted lawmakers to question whether the US president was regularly dozing off during official meetings.

“I don't even know how to respond to that, other than to tell you that it's absurd and ridiculous,” Rubio said during the hearing.

Defending Trump’s physical and mental condition, Rubio said the president remains highly active and fully capable of carrying out his duties.

“You may not like his policies, you may not like the decisions he's made. But I assure you, this is not a president that sleeps or is cognitively impaired in any way, shape, or form,” Rubio said. He added that Trump often works longer hours than many younger members of his administration.

Rubio also claimed that Trump maintains an intense work schedule with very little rest.

“I talk to him at all hours of the day and night. He works inhumane hours,” Rubio told lawmakers.

The latest exchange comes as concerns over the health of the oldest US president ever inaugurated continue to surface. Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, has largely avoided the level of scrutiny that surrounded former President Joe Biden during the final stages of his presidency, when Biden faced criticism over falls and verbal missteps.

However, public concerns remain. A recent Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll found that 59% of respondents believed Trump lacked the mental capacity to lead the country, while 55% questioned his physical fitness for the role.

The debate over Trump's health intensified despite a recent medical evaluation in which his doctors described him as being in “excellent health.” Following his latest check-up last week, physicians reportedly advised the president to lose weight but did not raise concerns about his ability to serve.

The discussion also comes amid observations that Trump has maintained a lighter public schedule in recent months compared with the early period of his second term, fueling further debate among critics and supporters about his workload and overall fitness.

With AFP inputs