President Joe Biden, 81, appeared to fall asleep during a meeting with African leaders in Angola Wednesday, as Vice President Philip Mpango of Tanzania addressed a roundtable discussion on U.S. infrastructure investments in the region.
Pool reporters observed Biden closing his eyes for extended periods and propping his face up with his hand during the Lobito Corridor Trans-Africa Summit.
The incident ended when an aide whispered in the president’s ear.
Take a look —
Joe Biden checked out long ago 😴
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 4, 2024
The meeting included Angolan President João Lourenço, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, and Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Tshisekedi, focusing on a $1 billion U.S.-funded railway project designed to counter Chinese influence in the region.
“The United States understands that how we invest in Africa is just as important as how much we invest in Africa,” Biden said during the group meeting, speaking in what reporters described as a hoarse voice.
The Biden administration has come under considerable criticism for the billion dollar giveaway to foreign nations. Critics point out that American citizens are still living in tents in North Carolina and are still struggling to get relief from Hurricane Helene after two months.
The drowsy spell occurred on the final day of Biden’s three-day visit – his first bilateral trip to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office, and the first by a U.S. president to the region since former President Barack Obama in 2015.
“This is something Biden has been focused on since he became president of the United States,” National Security spokesman John Kirby said, defending the trip’s timing as Biden enters his final weeks in office.
Earlier Wednesday, Biden toured a port terminal and food processing factory. During his arrival, he displayed a confused expression while watching traditional dancers in colorful prints and animal hides perform.
The president also announced $600 million U.S. taxpayer giveaway for agriculture and economic development along the railway corridor, adding even more to Tuesday’s pledge of $1 billion in humanitarian aid for Africans displaced by drought. The administration has previously backed a $2 billion solar energy project in Angola through a $900 million Export-Import Bank loan.
However, these commitments face uncertainty as President-elect Donald Trump, who has expressed skepticism toward such large foreign aid giveaways. Trump is set to take office on January 20, 2025.
Biden acknowledged his lame-duck status during the visit, telling an audience: “As you know, I’m in the final weeks of my presidency. You don’t have to clap for that. You can if you want.”
The president’s fatigue follows previous incidents of drowsiness at numerous events, which earned him the nickname “Sleepy Joe” by political rivals. Biden himself has admitted to struggling with exhaustion from global trips, and admitted his age affected his performance during his final presidential debate with Trump.
During the Angola visit, Biden also made a verbal slip, initially referring to the country as a “vibrant city” before correcting himself: “Look, not the city. The city, I know, is not Angola. But in Angola, in a vibrant city.”