Donald Trump, Biden’s predecessor who is running for the presidential election next year, said it was “not inspiring”.
By: Shubham Ghosh
US president Joe Biden on Thursday (1) tripped and fell on stage while taking part in the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colorado, US.
A video of the 80-year-old’s tumble went viral on social media and Donald Trump, Biden’s predecessor who is running for the presidential election next year, said it was “not inspiring”.
Joe Biden falls during Air Force graduation ceremony. pic.twitter.com/Yu3Wf731KB
— Pagan 🚩 (@paganhindu) June 2, 2023
Biden is the oldest sitting president in the history of the US.
On Thursday, the Democratic leader fell and dropped to his knees after handing out diplomas and tried to get off the stage. Secret Service agents and an Air Force officer quickly came to his rescue. The president did not require any assistance once he was back on his feet and walked away upright.
Ben LaBolt, communications director at the White House, later downplayed the incident saying on Twitter that Biden had no injury and blamed a sandbag for his fall.
He's fine. There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands. https://t.co/jP4sJiirHh
— Ben LaBolt (@WHCommsDir) June 1, 2023
It was not the first time that Biden has fallen in the public. In March 2021, he tripped on the stairs of Air Force One while going for a trip to Atlanta but managed to remain unhurt.
He also stumbled at the recent G7 Summit in Japan but caught himself. The president had been hurrying down a small set of stairs at the Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima when he erred in his steps.
After his latest tumble, Biden laughed off the incident after returning to the White House saying, “I got sandbagged!” after reporters asked him how he was feeling.
WATCH: “I got sandbagged,” Biden jokes about tripping and returns to the White House with a spring in his step. pic.twitter.com/oDZ6okCB2f
— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) June 1, 2023
He also did “a bit of footwork” for the media to show he was fighting fit, ABC News reported.
Reacting to his opponent’s fall, Trump said it was “not inspiring”, Fox News reported.
“He actually fell down? Well, I hope he wasn’t hurt,” Trump said. “The whole thing is crazy. You’ve got to be careful about that… even if you have to tiptoe down the ramp.”
“That’s a bad place to fall… that’s not inspiring,” he added.