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Donald Trump mocks Joe Biden after US President appears to fall asleep at COP26

US President Joe Biden has gone viral, after he was filmed nodding off during the opening speeches at the COP26 summit.

Ex-president Donald Trump has poked fun at Joe Biden after the US President appeared to fall asleep during the opening speeches at the COP26 climate summit.

Mr Trump, who has previously called the president ‘Sleepy Joe’, suggested Mr Biden doesn’t believe global warming is an emergency.

“Even Biden couldn’t stand hearing so much about the Global Warming Hoax, the 7th biggest Hoax in America, followed closely behind by the 2020 Presidential Election Scam, Russia, Russia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax #2 and, of course, the ‘No Collusion’ finding of the Mueller Report,” Mr Trump said in a statement.

“Biden went to Europe saying Global Warming is his highest priority, and then promptly fell asleep, for all the world to see, at the Conference itself. Nobody that has true enthusiasm and belief in a subject will ever fall asleep!”

A video circulated shows the 78-year-old folding his arms and gradually dozing off as the conference kicked off on Monday in Glasgow.

Dressed in a blue suit and wearing a black face mask, he shut his eyes for roughly eight seconds before opening them briefly and then closing them again for nearly 30 seconds.

Mr Biden opened his eyes when an aide whispered something into his ear.

US President Joe Biden appears to fall asleep during the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
US President Joe Biden appears to fall asleep during the COP26 summit in Glasgow.

He appeared to wipe his eyes once the adviser left before turning his attention back to the end of the speech as the rest of the room applauded.

The president had been in Scotland for less than four hours when he appeared to fall asleep.

He was listening to an orator discuss the historical importance of the event and how the conference can have the “power to make decisions and reach agreements which will affect the lives of generations to come”, before his eyes shut.

But he wasn’t the only world leader who appeared to be somewhat tired from the event.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was also snapped with his eyes closed as he sat between United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and TV presenter and naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Sir David Attenborough attend the opening ceremony of the UN Climate Change Conference. Picture: Jeff Mitchell
Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Sir David Attenborough attend the opening ceremony of the UN Climate Change Conference. Picture: Jeff Mitchell

However, Mr Johnson had an understandably busy time as the host of the international event.

He had individually elbow bumped hundreds of world leaders who were attending the Glasgow conference, opened the summit and sat through scores of speeches from monarchs, prime ministers and presidents.

Earlier, Mr Biden used his national statement to urge leaders to “answer history’s call here in Glasgow”.

In his speech Mr Biden apologised to the world for his predecessor Donald Trump removing the US from the Paris climate accord, saying that “put us sort of behind the eight ball”.

As he sought to restore America’s climate credibility, Mr Biden said it was “the challenge of our collective lifetimes”.

US President Joe Biden presents his national statement during day two of COP26 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. 2021 sees the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference. Picture: Andy Buchanan
US President Joe Biden presents his national statement during day two of COP26 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. 2021 sees the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference. Picture: Andy Buchanan

“Every day we delay, the cost of inaction increases,” he said.

“Let this be the start of a decade of transformative action that preserves our planet and raises the quality of life for people everywhere.”

“We’re standing at an inflection point in world history … We have the ability to invest in ourselves and build an equitable clean energy future, and in the process create millions of good-paying jobs and opportunities around the world.”

“This is the decade that will determine the answer. This decade.”

Originally published as Donald Trump mocks Joe Biden after US President appears to fall asleep at COP26

Read related topics:Mission Zero

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/technology/environment/us-president-joe-biden-appears-to-fall-asleep-during-cop26-climate-speech-in-glasgow/news-story/7359ee45f6375ceba78b95fff8636ce6