A moment during the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter where Joe Biden seemed to fall asleep went viral. Jill Biden, was seen in various news broadcasts, nudging the President as his head dropped forward during the ceremony. This incident, which sparked immediate public commentary, is one in a series of public lapses that have increasingly diverted attention from his diplomatic activities and ceremonial responsibilities.
Social media was instantly aflutter after the incident was broadcast. One user shared a clip of the President appearing to nap, commenting, “Biden is taking a nap at Jimmy Carter’s funeral.” Another user noted, “Joe Biden fell asleep within the first minutes of Jimmy Carter’s funeral,” while another humorously added, “If you had Joe Biden falling asleep 30 seconds into Jimmy Carter’s funeral, you’re a winner.”
Former President George W. Bush, who was seated directly behind Biden, was seen on camera leaning forward on multiple occasions, seemingly trying to engage with Biden to make sure he stayed awake during the service. Bush’s consistent lean-ins indicated a sustained level of concern throughout the ceremony.
Body language expert Patti Wood came to Biden’s defense by offering a different interpretation of his behavior at the funeral. She suggested that the former President may have been demonstrating signs of mourning for Carter, a long-time friend and colleague, rather than falling asleep. Wood noted that it is common for individuals dealing with intense grief or emotional pain to close their eyes as a way to cope. She added that this eye-closing behavior is a typical grief response often seen at funerals, as people instinctively try to shield themselves from overwhelming emotions by shutting their eyes.
This incident at the funeral was part of a worrying trend of similar occurrences during important diplomatic events. At a December 2024 summit in Angola, Biden was filmed with his eyes shut for over a minute while Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango was giving a presentation on African economic development. The video, which was widely circulated, shows Biden briefly opening his eyes before seemingly falling asleep again. Earlier the same day, during his formal remarks, Biden had mistakenly referred to Angola, the host nation, as a “vibrant city” and not a country.
Democratic strategist David Carlucci addressed concerns about Biden’s apparent tiredness after the footage of him seemingly falling asleep in Angola surfaced. Speaking to Sky News host Gabriella Power, Carlucci suggested that Biden’s behavior might be a result of a strenuous effort to achieve goals in the final weeks of his presidency. While acknowledging the troubling optics of the incident, Carlucci emphasized that this single event should not eclipse the diplomatic successes of Biden’s visit to Angola. He proposed that Biden might be overworking himself due to his demanding schedule.
Biden himself has recognized these issues. During a tense moment in a 2024 presidential debate against Trump, Biden confessed that he “nearly fell asleep” on stage, blaming his fatigue on jet lag from extensive international travel. This frank admission followed social media users noting his apparent struggle to stay engaged during the three-hour event.
Not all claims about Biden’s alertness have been substantiated. In 2023, accusations that he fell asleep during a memorial for a Maui wildfire were proven to be false when a high-resolution video from C-SPAN showed him coughing and nodding while looking down. This incident underscored the difficulty of differentiating between actual lapses and misleading narratives in an era of instant viral content.
The funeral for Carter also revealed profound divisions within the American political establishment. While Biden struggled to stay awake, other political dynamics were unfolding around him. Jill Biden and Kamala Harris noticeably avoided interacting throughout the service. Harris and her husband arranged a last-minute seating change to avoid sitting near President Donald Trump and Melania Trump. The absence of former First Lady Michelle Obama, who stayed in Hawaii for an extended vacation, led to an unexpected seating arrangement that put Barack Obama next to Donald Trump. The two were seen engaging in an animated conversation, drawing attention from mourners.