The Daily Beast Podcast Why Sleepy Trump, 79, Is Really Panicking Aides
10 snips
Dec 10, 2025 
Michael Wolff, an astute author and commentator on media and politics, joins to reveal the chaotic dynamics within Trump’s circle. They dive into the president's curious habit of dozing during meetings and the rising panic among his aides. Wolff breaks down the murky Hegseth video controversy, discusses Trump's influence over Hollywood, and the stress permeating Trumpworld. The duo questions the implications of Trump's whimsical decision-making and examines the political fallout from his erratic behavior.
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Sleeping Moments Create Office Panic
- Donald Trump falling asleep on camera has created constant panic among his aides about optics and consequences.
- Michael Wolff says the team now braces for his nodding off and the anger that follows when he wakes up.
Disengagement After Easy Wins
- Wolff suggests Trump may be losing interest after a year where many things went his way, and that fatigue shows as disengagement.
- He argues Trump prefers success without hard work and is beginning to withdraw from the grind.
Epstein Files Pattern Repeats
- Wolff compares Trump's casual promises to release sensitive files to the Epstein files pattern of bluster then backtracking.
- He recounts how aides like Pam Bondi were set to release materials but the effort was closed down.
