Rubio's Covert Sleeping Tactics on Presidential Flights
It has become increasingly apparent that President Donald Trump operates on minimal sleep, a characteristic that directly impacts those in his inner circle during extensive journeys aboard Air Force One. This reality has prompted some cabinet members to develop creative strategies to cope with the president's relentless energy and unusual sleep patterns.
The Blanket Disguise: A Secretary of State's Survival Mechanism
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has adopted a particularly inventive approach to managing his rest during these demanding flights. According to a revealing interview with New York Magazine, the Floridian politician often retreats to an office containing two couches, where he meticulously wraps himself in a blanket, completely covering his head to resemble what he describes as "a mummy."
Rubio explained his reasoning with remarkable candour: "I do that because I know that at some point on the flight, he's going to emerge from the cabin and start prowling the hallways to see who is awake. I want him to think it's a staffer who fell asleep. I don't want him to see his Secretary of State sleeping on a couch and think, Oh, this guy is weak."
Trump's Unconventional Rest Patterns and Cabinet Observations
Despite consistent claims from the president and his associates that he avoids napping entirely, Trump has been photographed with his eyes closed during numerous official gatherings, including cabinet meetings and Oval Office sessions. When questioned about these instances, Rubio offered a diplomatic interpretation, suggesting the president employs this as a "listening mechanism" rather than indicating fatigue.
Trump himself provided an alternative explanation during the same interview, stating bluntly about lengthy cabinet sessions: "It's boring as hell… I'm going around a room, and I've got 28 guys — the last one was three and a half hours. I have to sit back and listen, and I move my hand so that people will know I'm listening. I'm hearing every word, and I can't wait to get out."
Rubio's Multifaceted Role and Trump's Unusual Gifts
Beyond his sleeping strategies, Rubio has emerged as perhaps the most versatile figure within the current administration, simultaneously serving as:
- Secretary of State
- Acting National Security Adviser
- Acting Archivist of the United States
Despite this unprecedented triple responsibility, Rubio finds opportunities to defend the president's mental acuity. He recounted a memorable exchange where Trump criticised his footwear as "shitty" during one meeting, only to present him with a signed box containing brand-new size 12 shoes at their next encounter.
Presidential Attention to Detail and Health Questions
Rubio shared another revealing anecdote demonstrating Trump's remarkable observational skills. During a visit to the State Department, the president noticed that chandeliers were missing their decorative medallions—a detail that had escaped everyone else's attention. Days later, Rubio found himself summoned to the Oval Office, where Trump had arranged dozens of medallion samples and correctly determined the department needed exactly twelve.
The New York Magazine interview primarily focused on questions surrounding Trump's health, with the president dismissing concerns about cognitive decline while occasionally forgetting specific medical terminology. As the potential oldest president if reelected, Trump faces similar scrutiny to his predecessor Joe Biden, who also confronted age-related questions upon taking office.
Trump expressed clear irritation about the persistent health inquiries, warning: "I hate to waste a lot of time on this, but if you're going to write a bad story about my health, I'm going to sue the a** off of New York Magazine. There will be a time when you can write that story, maybe in two years, three years, five years – five years, no one is going to care, I guess."
These revelations provide unprecedented insight into the dynamics aboard Air Force One, where cabinet members like Rubio must navigate both the physical demands of presidential travel and the unique personality of their commander-in-chief, developing survival strategies that range from blanket camouflage to diplomatic explanations for unusual behaviour.
