This story was buried in today’s New York Times. I’m going to proceed from the attitude the Times has taken with Joe Biden and use some language from this story, re-arranging it for emphasis.
“’DROWSY DON’ DOZES IN COURT, RAISING AGE AND STAMINA CONCERNS”
Dateline New York, April 15, 2024 — Courtroom observers were visibly shocked to see the Republican candidate for President, Donald Trump, nod off several times in the courtroom, his mouth going slack and his head drooping onto his chest.
”We were — well, I guess ‘shocked’ is the word,” said a prominent political reporter who asked for anonymity to avoid retaliation from the Trump camp. “This is the first day of the trial — the MORNING of the first day — and he can’t stay awake? This raises very serious questions about his ability to perform the duties of the President.”
Mr. Trump’s falling into what one observer called “a drooling stupor” risks reinforcing the whispered concerns of Republican party leaders that, because of his advanced age, weight problem, propensity for junk food, and repeated gaffes during rallies, Mr. Trump will be perceived by voters as not up to the job. This is especially troublesome behavior in light of the “Jacked-Up Joe” performance of Mr. Trump’s opponent, President Joseph Biden, during the State of the Union speech.
In the hallway outside the courtroom, another party official who requested anonymity said, “Trump has several weeks of this trial. He’s used to doing what he wants, going where he wants, when he wants. We’re terrified of what might happen when Trump is cooped up in a stuffy courtroom for six hours a day, five days a week. God help us if some wayward spectator captures ‘Drowsy Don’ and posts the video.