President Joe Biden, 78, falls up the stairs of Air Force One
New questions over Biden’s health as the president, 78, stumbles multiple times up the stairs of Air Force One before falling down: Recovers to give a salute before flying to Atlanta
- President Biden fell as he climbed up the stairs of Air Force One on Friday morning at Joint Base Andrews
- The President stumbled multiple times, clinging on to the railing, then he fell to his knees
- He got back up and carried on climbing before giving a salute at the top then vanishing into the aircraft
- Biden has long faced questions over his health; he regularly mixes up names and titles
- On Thursday, he referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as ‘President Harris’
- The fall is the latest in a string of incidents which raise concerns over the President’s health and ability to lead
- It also comes at a moment of heightened tensions between the US, Russia and NA
- Until recently, the President was walking in a boot after breaking his foot while playing with his dog Major
- Biden, 78, is the oldest President in history; Ronald Reagan was 77 when he left office and he was 69 when he was elected
- Trump was 70 when elected and was 74 when he left office earlier this year
President Joe Biden stumbled multiple times then fell to his knees as he climbed the steps of Air Force One on Friday in the latest of a string of incidents which raise concerns over his health.
Biden, 78, was boarding the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews just before noon for a flight to Atlanta when he stumbled. He gripped on to the railing, steadied himself and kept going but lost his footing a second time and then a third.
On the third trip, he fell to his knees. He got back up then carried on up the stairs before giving a salute at the top then disappearing into the aircraft.
Once on the plane, White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that he was ‘100 percent fine’ and was preparing for his trip in Atlanta.
‘I know folks have seen that President Biden slipped on his way up the stairs to AF1, but I’m happy to report that he is just fine and did not even require any attention from the medical team who travels with him. Nothing more than a misstep on the stairs,’ White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield tweeted afterwards.
A White House pool report was issued by the reporters traveling with Biden within seconds of the fall but it was not covered extensively by major news networks for around 30 minutes after it happened.
Republicans including Donald Trump Jr. say the gentle media coverage of the fall is another example of the ‘mainstream media’ giving Biden the soft treatment after hammering President Trump for four years.
The fall is also the latest in a string of incidents which raise concern over the President’s health and comes a day after he referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as ‘President Harris’.
Earlier this week, Biden also engaged in a bitter stand-off with Russian President Vladimir Putin which ended with Putin wishing him ‘good health’ and withdrawing an envoy to the US which puts the relationship between the two countries in perilous territory.
Biden’s first stumble as he bounded up the stairs of Air Force One
The President recovered and kept going but quickly lost his footing again
Biden then got back on his feet somewhat and carried on walking, clinging on to the railing
The President then lost his balance again and fell to his knees on the carpeted stairs
Biden immediately recovered and got back on his feet to get to the top of the steps
Once at the top of the stairs, Biden gave a military salute before disappearing into the aircraft. The White House says he is 100% fine and is preparing for his trip in Atlanta
White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield tweeted this after the fall
Biden called Putin a ‘killer’ in an interview earlier this week and also said he will ‘pay a price’ for Russia trying to meddle in the 2016 election.
The White House and Biden’s camp routinely play down concerns about his health and insist he is fit to lead.
Biden is the oldest President in history; Ronald Reagan was 77 when he left office and he was 69 when he was elected
Trump was 70 when elected and was 74 when he left office earlier this year.
Throughout his campaign, Biden fought off Trump’s nickname for him – Sleepy Joe. He also poked fun at Trump’s health once or twice and
Donald Trump Jr. said it was ‘no wonder’ the US was being attacked by ‘enemies’ Russia and China when Biden’s health is in question
Until recently, Biden was walking in a boot after breaking his foot while playing with his dog, Major, in November.
His doctor at the time said he was otherwise in good health.
In December 2019, there were concerns over Biden’s health, in particular leading up to the 2020 election.
He released medical records which showed he has an irregular heartbeat and high cholesterol, but which described him as a ‘healthy, vigorous 77-year-old. ‘
The President is shown striding towards Air Force One on Friday seconds before he fell over
President Biden trying to regain balance on the steps of Air Force One on Friday after stumbling multiple times
President Biden disappears after stumbling on the steps of Air Force One on Friday
President Biden clings on to the railing as he climbs the steps of Air Force One after stumbling
Before he set off for Joint Base Andrews, Biden’s grandson Robert and his granddaughter Natalie joined his wife Jill at the White House to wave him off from the Truman Balcony as he boarded Marine One
Natalie Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden watch from the Truman Balcony as U.S. President Joe Biden boards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on March 19, 2021 in Washington, DC
Some experts questioned whether or not he was as healthy as he claimed.
Until recently, the President was walking in a boot after breaking his foot while playing with his dog Major in November
President Obama’s personal doctor was among them.
‘He’s not a healthy guy.
‘He’s not in bad shape for his age, but I wouldn’t say he’s in outstanding health.
‘Could I guarantee he won’t have issues for the next four years?
‘He has a lot of issues that are just sort of sitting there,’ he told The Washington Examiner at the time.
Concerns over Biden’s health have also extended to questions of his cognitive health.
Days before the election, he became confused when introducing is granddaughter Natalie at an event, and instead referred to her as ‘my son Beau’.
Beau Biden died in 2015 after battling a brain tumor.
The President also has a grandson called Beau, who is the son Hunter Biden and his new wife.
The baby is 11 months old.
Biden and Harris are flying to Atlanta to meet with members of the Asian community after Tuesday’s shootings at three massage parlors.
They had already planned the trip, to meet with failed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, before the shootings.
