An analysis of the official routines and appearances of Donald Trump suggests notable slowdowns due to advancing age. The U.S. president has been starting his office hours late in the day and taking a lot of time off from Washington.
Aging in Office: The Media and the Public Have Noticed and Identified the Signs of How Aging is Impacting Donald Trump
Katie Rogers and Dylan Freedman wrote a detailed analysis of public schedules and social media posts of Donald Trump and concluded that the United States president is aging in the office. Their article, which was published by The New York Times on 25 November 2025, reports on shorter office hours, late-day meetings and appearances, and fewer public events.
Notable Observations
Trump became the oldest person to be elected U.S. president when he won the U.S. presidential elections in November 2024 and assumed office in January 2025 at the age of 78. He is also one of the oldest heads of state in office from 2025 until his term ends in 2029. However, despite his age, he started his second term with sweeping political convictions.
Observations from both the media and public have noted and documented several incidents of what appear to be signs of aging becoming apparent as the second Trump presidency unravels in its first year. Rogers and Freedman documented these in a single report. These can also be cross-referenced with reports from other media outlets. Take note of the following:
• Decline in Public Appearances
The schedule of Trump showed a substantial reduction in public events compared with his first term. This suggests a slower pace that contrasts sharply with earlier routines. This decline reflects measurable shifts in workload distribution and raises questions about how aging influences his visibility and official engagement patterns.
• Later and Shorter Working Days
Daily schedules now begin noticeably later, with official activities frequently starting around midday or later in the afternoon rather than midmorning, thereby resulting in shorter rendered hours at the office and fewer visible official days overall. These changes hint at possible changes in energy levels and daily stamina due to late age.
• Reduced Domestic Travel Frequency
The domestic travel of Trump has decreased with fewer large-scale events and fewer regional appearances than in previous years, creating a marked contrast with his earlier, more robust movement across the country. It is still worth mentioning that Trump has made several foreign trips to attend important conventions or meetings.
• Visible Fatigue in Public Settings
Observers have documented moments in which Trump appeared fatigued during official events. These included brief episodes of drooping eyelids and reduced attentiveness seen or captured during high-visibility gatherings. This raises concerns about the physical manifestations of aging in demanding leadership environments.
• Noticeable Physical Indicators
Sightings of hand bruising, swollen ankles, and an undisclosed MRI examination drew attention to possible physical stressors that come with aging. Officials have offered limited details or official explanations about these observations. Most have alleged that the signs could be an indicator of more serious health-related challenges.
Further Discussions
Remember that the observations in the New York Times article have also been reported by other media outlets. For example, Harry Cockburn of The Independent and Jess Philips and Myriam Toua of The Mirror reported that Trump appeared to have dozed off during a White House press conference on November 6 about how tackling obesity can improve sleep.
Some might argue that the ramblings and nonsensical talks of Trump also mark cognitive decline due to aging. However, this has not been proven, and the U.S. president has been infamous for going off tangent during speeches, making random remarks, asserting false claims or echoing false information, and talking nonsense even during his first presidential term.
Trump responded to the New York Times article with scathing remarks posted on both Truth Social and X. He singled out Katie Rogers and called her a “third-rate reporter” and “ugly inside and out” who is allegedly tasked to write negative things about him. The New York Times noted that calling names and insults do not change the accuracy of their reporting.
Note that this is not the first time a U.S. president has been scrutinized for aging-related concerns and slip-ups. The presidency of Joe Biden was haunted by incessant media coverage and public observations underscoring what people think are signs of cognitive and physical decline. Biden became U.S. president at the age of 78. He was 82 at the end of his term.
FURTHER READINGS AND REFERENCES
- Cockburn, H. 7 November 2025. “Trump Appears to Doze Off During Meeting About How Tackling Obesity Can Improve Sleep.” The Independent. Available online
- Jacobs, R. 21 July 2025. “Trump’s Term 2 Corruption by the Numbers: More Golf Trips, More Foreign Visitors and More Profits.” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Available online
- Philips, J. and Toua, M. 7 November 2025. “White House Press Conference Descends Into Chaos as Trump ‘Dozes Off’ on Live TV.” The Mirror. Available online
- Rokers, K. and Freedman, D. 26 November 2025. “Shorter Days, Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities of Aging in Office.” The New York Times. Available online
- Webb, K. 5 March 2025. “FAA Notice: President Trump to Make Fifth Visit to Palm Beach Since Taking Office Jan. 20.” Palm Beach Daily News. Available online