During the graduation ceremony at the Air Force Academy, President Joe Biden had a brief mishap when he tripped and fell onstage. However, a White House aide quickly reassured the public that the president was fine, suggesting that he may have accidentally tripped over a sandbag.
Just after greeting over 900 graduates by shaking their hands, President Biden turned to go back to his seat. While attempting to jog, he lost his footing and fell on the stage. He was promptly helped up by two Secret Service agents and an Air Force official, who he also pointed out the cause of his fall.
White House communications director Ben LaBolt retweeted a reporter’s tweet about President Biden’s condition, confirming that he was okay.
President Biden demonstrated resilience despite the fall, continuing to engage with the graduates by having conversations and taking photos and selfies. As he left the event, he even jogged several times.
However, this incident has prompted discussions about President Biden’s fitness for re-election. A recent poll conducted by The Washington Post-ABC News revealed that 33% of U.S. adults believe President Biden is physically capable of effectively serving as president for another four years, while 64% expressed confidence in former President Donald Trump’s physical fitness when he ran for a second term at the age of 76.
In February, President Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, confirmed that the president is fit to carry out his duties, describing him as a “healthy, vigorous 80-year-old male.” Dr. O’Connor’s evaluation was based on a thorough review of President Biden’s medical history and a comprehensive physical examination that involved consultations at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
This is not the first time President Biden has experienced a fall. Last year, he fell off his bike during a weekend trip to his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Despite these incidents, the White House and medical professionals remain confident in President Biden’s ability to fulfill his presidential duties effectively.
With his morale unaffected, President Biden boarded Air Force One with a smile as he returned to Washington following the graduation ceremony.