Biden falls while handing out diplomas at Air Force Academy

President Biden fell on stage while handing out diplomas at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. The 80-year-old commander-in-chief stumbled and fell to his knees, then got back up during the graduation ceremony in an incident likely to raise more concerns about his age as the country’s oldest president pursues a second term. He was assisted by Air Force officials as he fell to the ground. The president then walked away unassisted, appearing to point to a sandbag on stage that he appeared to trip over.

It’s just his latest stumbling block after he fell down the stairs last year while boarding Air Force One and fell on his bike near his beach house in Delaware. He was not injured in either incident. A pool reporter who traveled to Colorado with the president said Biden “walked back to his seat when he fell.” He turned out to have tripped on stage over a black sandbag. “As he fell, he pointed to the black sandbag, suggesting he had tripped on it,” the report said.

The stumbling comes just weeks after Biden tripped while visiting the Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, Japan. During that event, a railing was available on a staircase that the president had to navigate down. He ignored the railing and fell. It was three years ago when then-President Donald Trump appeared to struggle as he walked down a ramp in giving the opening address at West Point.

The fall comes at a race in which Biden’s age has already become an issue. Biden would be 82 when sworn in if he wins a second term. His main rival, 76, former President Donald Trump, has repeatedly questioned Biden’s mental capacity.

The fall comes just hours after Biden landed a legislative achievement that saw the House vote to pass a deal he negotiated with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to avoid a possible default. It also comes at the beginning of a presidential campaign where the White House is already answering questions about why Biden has stopped going out or holding formal campaign rallies.

The White House physician has declared Biden fit to serve, but has also noticed a stiffening in his gait. The president has walked more slowly to and from the White House in recent months. He still flies regularly, as he did over Memorial Day weekend when he flew to Camp David, returned to the White House, then flew to Wilmington and returned to D.C.

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