Staff Reports
Jet lag is a common affliction, especially for those who cross oceans, but when President Joe Biden makes a trip halfway around the world to Angola and appears to doze off during a meeting with African leaders, it raises a few eyebrows. The president found himself at the Lobito Corridor Trans-Africa Summit, but instead of rallying the troops, he seemed to be battling more than just time zone changes. Multiple instances were observed where poor ol’ Biden’s eyes shut tighter than a drum while others were busy discussing transformative rail investments. It was a classic case of “The President’s Nap Time,” leaving attendees wondering if they should hand him a pillow or a strong cup of coffee.
This excursion to Angola wasn’t just a leisurely getaway. It involved serious business like meeting with Angolan President Joao Lourenco and paying a visit to the National Museum of Slavery. But as he flew in from Washington, D.C., bidding farewell to his home and setting sail six hours into the future of African time, it seemed like the only thing he was prepared to transform was his sleeping pattern. One could almost hear the whispers: “Is he jet-lagged or just plain tired of it all?”
To add to the spectacle, Biden announced a cool $600 million investment in the Lobito rail corridor, which has some conservatives scratching their heads. The investment aims to upgrade critical infrastructure, but one has to wonder how impactful those dollars will be when the leader of the country seems to be dreaming about them rather than discussing the details. While he spoke about the importance of investment in Africa, many must have been thinking if this entailed more of a ‘let’s fix the train’ initiative or just an elaborate way to keep Biden from falling asleep in front of world leaders.
Joe please just go to Delaware or Camp David and sit this term out. Stop embarrassing the country and yourself further.
“Biden appears to fall asleep during African summit” https://t.co/obcG3kc4Cl
— James Hutton (@JEHutton) December 5, 2024
The timing is rather uncanny, considering this trip is just weeks before Biden’s anticipated exit from the White House on January 20. It’s almost as if he thought he could squeeze in one last jaunt before the clock runs out, but instead, he ended up potentially providing a comedic performance. Not to mention, his previous debate performance against Donald Trump wasn’t exactly one for the history books—rather, it left a lot to be desired. Rumors had circulated that Biden himself mentioned needing more sleep, and given his current exhibition, one can see why he’s feeling that pressure more than ever.
Overall, this trip to Africa may not just be remembered for its intended investments and summits, but for providing a memorable chapter in the saga of Biden’s presidency, where it was unclear whether he was there to lead discussions or simply take a snooze. Perhaps the striking contrast between his behavior and the serious discussions around him served as a reminder: when it comes to leadership, sleep may not be the best policy after all.
