Trump wipes eye with wet napkin during Florida rally, brushes off health concerns

US President Donald Trump briefly interrupted his campaign speech in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday after appearing to struggle to keep one eye open, drawing attention to his health just days before the November 3 midterm elections.

The 80-year-old president paused midway through his remarks to supporters at the Ocean Center, dipped a napkin into a cup of water and used it to wipe his eye before resuming his speech.

“Do you mind? I got a thing in my eye, watch this,” Trump told the audience.

After wiping his eye, he appeared relieved and remarked, “Ah, that's so much better.” He then added, “I wish I had little eye drops.”

The interruption was met with laughter from the audience, with Trump continuing his address shortly afterwards. A video of the incident circulated widely on social media, prompting fresh discussions about his health and physical condition.

Trump responds to speculation about his health

Trump used the incident to take aim at critics who have questioned his health following the cancellation of two campaign rallies scheduled for the weekend in Kansas and Iowa.

“If I did, they'd say I was seriously ill, that there's something wrong with me,” he said, referring to the possibility of using eye drops.

The president had initially cancelled his planned appearances in the two states, prompting speculation about his health and ability to sustain an intensive campaign schedule. However, he insisted that he felt “perfect”.

The rallies were subsequently reinstated on Friday, with Trump announcing that he would travel to Iowa and Kansas on Sunday to campaign for Republican candidates.

During the Daytona Beach rally, Trump also spoke about his demanding campaign schedule, saying he had been campaigning for 28 consecutive days. He joked that his voice was operating at around 49.2% capacity.

The initial cancellations had been announced on Thursday, with the Republican National Committee indicating that Trump would instead participate in telephone rallies. The reasons behind the decision were subsequently discussed by aides, while Trump said Republican candidates had requested his presence in the two states.

Social media reacts to Trump's eye incident

Although the audience appeared to take the interruption in its stride, the episode attracted criticism and concern on social media after footage was shared on X.

Several users questioned Trump's health and suggested that the incident reflected a decline in his physical condition.

“Good lord! They need to get grandpa off the stage. He is losing it,” one user wrote.

“He's seriously ill. There's something wrong with him,” another commented.

“His comedy skits are ending in 2028,” a third user said.

The reactions came amid increased scrutiny of Trump's health following questions over his cancelled campaign appearances. However, the eye-wiping episode itself did not establish any medical condition, and no medical explanation for the irritation was provided during the rally.

Why the US midterm elections matter

The incident comes at a crucial point in the US election campaign, with voters set to cast their ballots on Tuesday, November 3, in elections that will determine control of Congress.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives, where members serve two-year terms, are up for election. Voters will also decide approximately one-third of the 100 seats in the Senate, where senators serve six-year terms.

The outcome will determine which party controls the two chambers and consequently has a greater influence over the legislative process, policy priorities, committee leadership and federal budget decisions.

A shift in congressional control could significantly affect Trump's ability to advance his agenda during the remaining two years of his presidency.

If Democrats secure control of either chamber, they could intensify congressional investigations, challenge the administration's proposed legislation and use their majority in the Senate to delay or reject confirmations of federal judges and senior administration officials.

Republicans, meanwhile, are seeking to retain their congressional majorities, making the final campaign appearances by Trump and other party leaders particularly significant.