During a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday, Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) was captured on video appearing to doze off.
The footage shows the 71-year-old congresswoman with her eyes closed and head tilted back while seated prominently on the dais. The clip quickly circulated on social media, drawing comparisons to past instances where President Joe Biden was seen nodding off during public events.
This incident has sparked criticism from various social media users. One commenter remarked, “You’re not even in the back of the room, you’re in front of everyone. No class. Have some respect for your position.”
Another stated, “In the private sector Dingell would be fired for sleeping on the job.”
WATCH:@RepDebDingell is asleep in a hearing room pic.twitter.com/AhVaGiFjcf
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) May 14, 2025
🚨 Who is Debbie “Dreamland” Dingell
– She has been in Congress for 10 years
– She took over the seat from her husband John Dingell who held it for 59 years
– John Dingell took the seat over from his father, John Dingell Sr, who held it for 22 years
92 years of Dingell pic.twitter.com/rQxWz21uYu
— Alec Lace (@AlecLace) May 14, 2025
Representative Dingell, who has served in the House since 2015, holds the role of messaging chair for House Democrats. Her responsibilities include shaping and communicating the party’s legislative agenda. This recent episode adds to previous controversies, such as her February tribute to Osama Siblani, an activist with a history of anti-Semitic remarks, which drew bipartisan criticism.
The comparison to President Biden stems from documented instances where he appeared to fall asleep during events, including a 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference. Critics argue that such moments, whether from the President or other lawmakers, can undermine public confidence in their leaders’ engagement and commitment.
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