Donald Trump has sparked quite the heated discussion online following his reaction to a man passing out right next to him.
On Thursday (6 November), during Trump's announcement of a new weight loss drug deal, the man in question suffered a health emergency and collapsed on the floor, causing the event to be cut short.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has since issued a statement confirming that the man was 'OK' and identified him as a representative of one of the health care companies in attendance.
The incident occurred while Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks was speaking. The guest, who was among Trump administration officials and health care executives standing behind the Resolute Desk where Trump was seated, suddenly appeared faint and required assistance.
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"You OK?" Ricks asked, as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz and others moved to help. Several attendees helped lower the man to the ground and elevated his feet while reporters were escorted out of the room.
Trump stood up from behind the desk to observe as the guest received aid before the cameras were cut off.
As White House staff began to usher the press out of the room, a live camera feed captured the 79-year-old Republican turning directly to the camera with a blank expression on his face, and many people have rushed to social media to call out his seemingly aloof reaction.
One Instagram user slammed: "Trump just standing there without a care in the world."
"Trump just stood there and watched a man collapse. He didn’t call for help. He didn’t do anything. That’s not leadership. It’s an abdication of leadership," hit out a second.
A third chimed in: "Look at Grandpa stand up from his desk and stand there like a piece of the wall. He literally doesn’t know what to do when anything human happens. He freezes."
"Trump just stands there and stares," echoed a fourth, while another declared: "Trump shows zero care or empathy."
And a final Instagram user added: "The way Trump just towers over to watch."
When reporters were later allowed back into the Oval Office, Trump said the individual was a representative from a pharmaceutical company who had 'got a little bit light-headed'.
"You saw he went down. And he’s fine," Trump told reporters. "They just sent him out. He’s got doctors’ care. But he’s fine."
During a subsequent press briefing, Ricks identified the man as 'Gordon,' a guest of Eli Lilly.
"Gordon was one of the Lilly guests at the White House today. He became faint, and if you’ve ever been in the Oval Office, you stand a long time, and it’s warm," Ricks said. "Pleased to say the White House medical staff did a great job and he’s doing great. So, nothing to be concerned about. Thanks for your concern."
Topics: Donald Trump, News, Politics, US News, Social Media, Instagram
Rhiannon Ingle