Colorado: US President Joe Biden stumbled and fell on the stage on Thursday (local time) after congratulating graduating cadets at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. Biden, who at 80 is the nation’s oldest serving president, was quickly helped back to his seat and appeared to be fine afterwards. Biden was greeting graduates with salutes and handshakes in front of the stage in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and began jogging back to his seat when he collapsed.
The video of Biden’s fall went viral on social media. He was assisted by an Air Force officer as well as two members of his US Secret Service detail. In the viral video, Biden was seen walking without support on this seat in the stands. He was also seen smiling and running towards his vehicle at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Check out the video here
‘Biden is fine’
The White House said the president is fine after the fall. White House communications director Ben LaBolt tweeted, “He is fine.” “When he was shaking hands there was a sandbag on the stage.” Two small black sandbags were on stage to support the teleprompter used by Biden and other speakers.
Questions have been raised about Biden’s age and suitability for office, and his mistakes have been used as political fodder by rivals as he runs for re-election in 2024. He stumbled before going up the stairs and getting on Air Force One, and he once got his bike pedals stuck while stopping to talk to reporters near his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
‘I got sandbags’
President Biden laughs at his embarrassing fall at the Air Force Academy convocation. Biden quipped that he’s got a “sandbag”. “I got stuck in a sandbag,” the president told reporters with a smile as he returned to the White House on Thursday evening before pretending to walk through the residence.
Biden’s personal physician said in February after the president’s most recent physical examination that Biden was “a healthy, vigorous 80-year-old male who is fit to successfully perform the duties of the presidency.” Dr. Kevin O’Connor also documented the president’s stiff gait, which O’Connor said was the result of spinal arthritis, a previously broken leg, and neuropathy in Biden’s feet.
Trump reacts to Biden’s fall
Trump, 76, was campaigning in Iowa when he heard about Biden’s stumble and pointed to his own episode. “He really fell down? Well, I hope he didn’t get hurt.” “The whole thing is crazy. You have to be careful about it… ’cause you don’t want that, even if you have to go down the ramp.
The audience laughed as Trump spoke of slowly making his way into what he said was a slippery ramp into the US Military Academy graduation.
“If he fell, that’s too bad,” said the former president. “We’ve got to get this thing back on track. It’s a bad place to fall when you’re building, I think it was the Air Force Academy, right? It’s not inspiring.”
Meanwhile, GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used the opportunity to take a political shot at Biden at a campaign event in New Hampshire. “We hope and wish Joe Biden a speedy recovery from any injuries,” he said, “but we also wish that the United States recovers from the injuries caused by Joe Biden and his policies.” Get well soon.”
Biden is far from the first national political figure to publicly stumble. In 1975, President Gerald Ford collapsed while walking from Air Force One. GOP Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, then the GOP presidential candidate, fell off the stage at a campaign rally in 1996. A podium at a 2012 event. “I got so excited, I missed a step,” he told the crowd. Former President Trump’s walk at the 2020 West Point debut also raised concerns about his health.
(with AP inputs)