What Scientists Say About Trump's Sleep Habits

A few months ago, rumors swirled after a report that U.S. President Donald Trump received a highly secretive MRI, the results of which were communicated to the public with veiled words. But there's a Trump health fact that's uncontested: his sleep habits. The president claims to sleep only about 5 hours per night, which scientists virtually unanimously agree is not enough — especially for a man approaching 80 years of life. Still, the amount of sleep required for a healthy brain and body differs from person to person. Does a near-80-year-old require more sleep than 5 hours per night? The answer is complicated.

While President Trump may boast that he only sleeps 5 hours per night, it's clear that he's living a tired lifestyle. He's been seen dozing off during important meetings, while characteristically claiming that such such slips are nods induced by boredom. Unfortunately, boredom is not a reassuring excuse for a slack in attention span, and the American public appears frustrated (the president currently holds an approval rating of only around 39%). But whether the low approval rating is mostly due to the faltering economy or the Executive-in-chief's low energy is hard to determine. In any case, the president of the "free world" should be getting more sleep, according to scientists.

Reportedly, President Trump often pulls all-nighters, even at the ripe old age of 79. His staff members worry that the practice will catch up to him, since poor sleep habits can kill. On the other hand, it's normal for senior citizens to experience sleep pattern changes. According to research from the National Institute on Aging, older folks often experience poorer sleep and earlier sleep schedules. This may explain Trump's dozing off — though the healthiest amount of sleep remains at a constant 7 to 9 hours per night.

The question of how much sleep you need to maintain a healthy life is up for debate. Some people wake up with no problem, while others battle their alarm clocks with ferocity. It's certainly true that different people require different amounts of sleep to function. A common rumor is that Napoleon Bonaparte only slept for four hours per night. In any case, it's well documented that poor sleep habits lead to numerous health problems, such as issues with cognition, high blood pressure, an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, and diabetes. If President Trump's claims are true, his short sleep cycle could be slowly killing him.

For those suffering from insomnia, sleep scientists recommend over-the-counter sleep-aid medications, though usually with a high degree of discretion. Indeed, drugs such as diphenhydramine may increase the risk of developing dementia, and even melatonin may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease over the long run. However, drugs like diphenhydramine are best avoided due to side effects such as confusion, falls, memory problems, constipation, and dry mouth. There is also evidence linking its use to an increased risk for dementia.

That link to dementia is a problem, considering President Trump is already at risk of dementia. It's generally agreed that senior citizens need more sleep, not less. What's more, in the United States, elected officials are increasingly geriatric. With his 2024 election victory, Donald Trump surpassed Joe Biden and became the oldest U.S. president of the United States at the age of 78. At the end of his term, President Trump will be the oldest serving U.S. president to date. Such an age demands proper sleep to remain sharp, so perhaps his concerned advisors can convince him to sleep more than 5 hours a night.