Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Jimmy Fallon says Trump should wear a shock collar in court after reports of him falling asleep

Former president has been widely ridiculed for reportedly dozing off during his criminal trial

Joe Sommerlad
Friday 03 May 2024 08:06 BST
Comments
Jimmy Fallon says Trump should wear a shock collar in court to keep him from falling asleep

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Late-night host Jimmy Fallon has suggested that Donald Trump wears a shock collar following reports that he has repeatedly fallen asleep during his New York hush money trial.

“In an effort to stop Trump from falling asleep in court, his lawyers have been giving him a number of different devices”, the comedian said during his opening monologue on the Tonight Show on Wednesday.

“So far, the only thing that can keep him awake is an iPad playing Bluey.”

Mr Fallon continued: “His lawyers are running out of ideas to keep him awake, they even hired a kindergarten teacher to keep him awake by standing at the front of the court saying, ‘Eyes on me, eyes on you’.”

The comic then cut to a spoof commercial for a “Trump Shock Collar”, which the ad described as: “The world’s first human shock collar disguised as a red neck tie!”

The promo pledged that the device would work as well on the campaign trail as it does in court, cutting to a number of clips of the Republican presidential candidate misspeaking and emitting odd groans during his public appearances, as though he were being electrocuted.

The product’s tagline? “Stay woke!”

The commander-in-chief turned criminal defendant has been spotted multiple times with his eyes closed during his trial, where he is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in order to ensure her silence about an alleged 2006 affair, in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

Jimmy Fallon mocks Donald Trump in the opening monologue to The Tonight Show on Wednesday 1 May 2024
Jimmy Fallon mocks Donald Trump in the opening monologue to The Tonight Show on Wednesday 1 May 2024 (The Tonight Show/YouTube)

Mr Trump is expected to attend Manhattan Criminal Court each day of the legal proceedings and has complained bitterly that it is keeping him away from the campaign trail.

The defendant’s repeated gripes about the case and its participants has already forced the presiding Judge Juan Merchan to issue Mr Trump with a gag order and then fine him $9,000 for breaching it in nine separate social media posts and campaign messages complaining about the case.

Judge Merchan is due to rule on four further alleged breaches raised by the prosecution and has warned Mr Trump that he could face jail time if he continues to violate the order.

Reports that Mr Trump has been asleep at the bench in court is particularly embarrassing given his nickname for President Joe Biden: “Sleepy Joe.”

The president recently hit back at his rival, calling him “Sleepy Don” at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in