During a recent press conference held at the White House on July 30, former President Donald Trump announced a new health initiative called “Make Health Technology Great Again.” The focus of this initiative is to collaborate with more than 60 healthcare and tech companies to make Medicare patient data more accessible.
While the plan seemed ambitious, it wasn’t the main story that caught people’s attention. As Dr. Mehmet Oz spoke, many observed Trump appearing unusually drowsy. His prolonged blinks and apparent disengagement during the speech quickly became a hot topic on social media.
The incident raised eyebrows, particularly because Trump had often mocked former President Joe Biden by calling him ‘Sleepy Joe.’ Social media users were quick to point out the irony.
One observer noted Trump’s impatience during other people’s speeches, mentioning, “He seems visibly bothered when someone else is talking, but perks up if he hears exaggerated praise.”
Another viewer humorously remarked, “He’s only tired because he’s not the one speaking. But he has no trouble tweeting late into the night.”
Others highlighted the irony given Trump’s nickname for Biden, saying, “He spent years calling Biden ‘Sleepy Joe,’ but he’s the one who appears to nod off when sitting down.”
Yet another comment questioned the age of candidates, “He’s old and spends his nights on Twitter. Can we please elect someone under 65?”
Another user simply added, “Oh wow. That’s unexpected. Where are the Epstein files?”
Beyond the reactions to Trump’s demeanor, the new health initiative itself has drawn criticism. The plan aims to allow patients to seamlessly keep track of and share their medical records with doctors, hospital systems, and health apps. Devices like the Apple Health app could potentially access lab results from a doctor’s office to provide a comprehensive view of a patient’s health metrics, such as step counts and sleep patterns.
However, not everyone is on board with these advancements. Lawrence Gostin, a law professor at Georgetown University specializing in public health, raised significant privacy concerns. He warned, “There are significant ethical and legal issues involved. Patients should be worried about how their medical records could be used in ways that may be harmful to them and their families.”
