Video shows Trump closing eyes in prayer, not sleeping at RNC | Fact check

Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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The claim: Footage shows Trump sleeping at RNC

A July 16 Threads video (direct link, archive link) shows a clip from MSNBC's coverage of the Republican National Convention in which former President Donald Trump appears to be sitting with his eyes closed for an extended period of time.

"Donald. Trump. Fell. Asleep," reads text within the post, which was originally shared on X, formerly Twitter.

The caption of the Threads post says, "If Biden did this it would be front page news."

The Threads post was reposted more than 1,000 times in three days. Other versions of the claim were shared on Facebook and Instagram.

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Our rating: False

The clip shows Trump closing his eyes while a speaker recited a prayer. He is seen on camera moments later with his eyes open. Footage of the event shows other audience members also closing their eyes and bowing their heads in prayer.

Video shows Trump praying, not sleeping

Trump's entrance on the first night of the RNC was met with widespread applause as he made his first public appearance since an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. He proceeded to make an appearance the next two nights of the convention before formally accepting the Republican nomination on July 18 and giving a 92-minute speech.

But the viral clip doesn't show Trump falling asleep during the convention.

At the time, Rev. James A. Roemke, a Lutheran pastor from Wisconsin, was reciting a prayer for the crowd. Full broadcasts of the speech show Trump was one of many audience members closing their eyes in prayer during Roemke's recitation, with some also bowing their heads.

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Footage shows the former president opening his eyes and smiling after Roemke finished his prayer. Some attendees closed their eyes once again during a Sikh prayer by the next speaker, former RNC Committeewoman for California Harmeet Dhillon.

USA TODAY reached out to the Threads user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response. The X user couldn't be contacted.

PolitiFact and AFP also debunked the claim.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Video doesn't show Trump falling asleep at RNC | Fact check