Monsurat
The United States President, Joe Biden who had delivered the commencement address to graduates of the military academy, tripped over an obstacle on stage at the Air Force Academy in Colorado.
Biden shook hands with a cadet and was walking back to his seat when he fell. Air Force personnel helped him back up and he appeared unhurt. The 80-year-old president walked back to his seat unaided after the incident which happened on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the white house says the President is “fine” after the fall. He stumbled on a sandbag and he later joked about it yelling “I got sandbagged!” to reporters after stepping off Marine One Thursday evening.
Biden had been on his feet for about an hour and a half, shaking hands and handing out diplomas to each of the 921 graduating cadets. The President landed on his right hip as he was moving back to his seat.
As he was helped up, video footage showed him pointing to one of two sandbags used to support Teleprompters in front of the podium. The footage showed him walking back to his seat unaided and later jogging back to his motorcade after the ceremony.
“He’s fine. There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands”, said communications director Ben LaBolt on Twitter.
Biden is the country’s oldest president, and is running for second term. He’s had previous stumbles in public, including falling during a bike ride last year in Delaware. He was also seen slipping on the stairs as he boards Air Force One.
These episodes have raised concerns that Biden should not be running for second term, with most citing his age. He would be 82 at the beginning of the second term. However, his doctors have said he “remains fit for duty.”
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