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Viral image
stated on July 27, 2023 in an Instagram post:

Video shows President Joe Biden falling asleep “on live TV.”

False

Video doesn’t show President Joe Biden sleeping during TV interview

If your time is short

  • President Joe Biden didn’t fall asleep during this interview.
 
See the sources for this fact-check

An old clip of President Joe Biden answering a question about his intention to run for reelection in 2024 is recirculating social media with a familiar claim: The video shows him falling asleep. 

“Joe Biden goes to sleep on live TV” reads text above the clip from a Oct. 21, 2022, MSNBC interview

In the interview, Biden is asked whether his wife supports him running for reelection. 

Biden nods, and host Jonathan Capehart says, “Mr. President” and then “Oh” as Biden starts to speak.

“Dr. Biden thinks that — my wife thinks that — that we’re doing something very important,” Biden says. 

@politifact Replying to @Rachel Did President Joe Biden fall asleep in this clip of a 2022 TV interview that has circulated social media? No, it’s just the camera angle. #biden #joebiden #factcheck #fyp #learnontiktok ♬ Chillest in the Room – L.Dre

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

Biden looks down during the interview, but he doesn’t fall asleep, as the post claims. 

We rate that claim False.

 
Our Sources

Instagram post, July 27, 2023

YouTube, Interview: Jonathan Capehart Interviews Joe Biden on MSNBC, Oct. 21, 2022

 

Video doesn’t show President Joe Biden sleeping during TV interview

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on January 7, 2026 a press briefing

stated on January 14, 2026 a statement

Social Media
stated on February 14, 2026 social media posts



stated on January 20, 2026 an op-ed


Donald Trump
stated on February 3, 2026 remarks in the Oval Office


Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 social media posts





Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on stated on November 17, 2025 in remarks at George Washington University:

Donald Trump
stated on February 2, 2026 an interview with Dan Bongino