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PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TRIPS AND FALLS DURING GRADUATION CEREMONY

As the president was helped up by an Air Force officer and two members of his US
Secret Service detail, he was seen pointing behind him at a sandbag.

Thursday 1 June 2023 22:44, UK

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Why you can trust Sky News

Joe Biden has tripped and fallen during a graduation ceremony at the US Air
Force academy.

The American president, 80, was quickly helped up by three people, and walked
back to his seat unassisted following the incident in Colorado.

As the leader was helped up, he pointed behind him, seeming to indicate what he
tripped over.

Image: Pic: AP

White House communications director Ben LaBolt said Mr Biden was fine.

"There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands," he said on Twitter.

Mr Biden, who stood for much of the hours-long ceremony to shake hands with
graduates, appeared to trip over something and fell to his knees towards the end
as he handed out the last diploma.

He was helped up by an Air Force officer as well as two members of his US Secret
Service detail. Onlookers, including some members of the official delegation on
stage, looked over in concern before the leader returned to his seat.

At the presentation, he gave salutes to the blue-uniformed graduates.

Image: Pic: AP

Image: Mr Biden points to a sandbag after falling on stage. Pic: AP

In his address in Colorado Springs to more than 900 cadets, the US
commander-in-chief warned graduates they will enter service in an increasingly
unstable world, citing challenges from Russia and China.

The Democrat president is running for re-election in 2024.

Speaking on the campaign trail in Iowa, the frontrunner for the Republican
nomination next year, Donald Trump, said the fall was "not inspiring", adding
the "whole thing is crazy".

FOR SOME BIDEN IS A SAGE POLITICAL OPERATOR - BUT FOR OTHERS HE'S SIMPLY TOO OLD
FOR THE JOB

Mark Stone

US correspondent

@Stone_SkyNews

In this politically charged country, the headline is either "He's fine" or "He
fell (again)!"

Already, in Republican circles, the video is being circulated and used to back
up the narrative that he is losing control, or has lost control, of his
faculties.

There are plenty of voters in this country who believe President Biden's age is
a real issue as he seeks a second term as president.

For Republican Party candidates, his age and his fitness for office is a clear,
effective attack point.

The videos are out there: President Biden tripping up the steps of Air Force One
or appearing to get lost walking to his helicopter outside the White House.

There are even more videos of him seemingly losing his train of thought in
speeches.

His supporters say these are cheap shots. As president, he is subject to regular
medicals. There is no evidence to suggest he is physically or mentally unfit.

He has battled to control a stutter all his life which supporters say explains
his less than fluent delivery.

The photographs of this latest trip for the president clearly show a sandbag in
his path.

Still - how much will all that matter?

For some, he is a sage political operator with decades of experience. For others
he's simply too old for the job.

Those who want to use these moments against the president will do so more and
more as next year's election approaches.

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When told by an audience member that Mr Biden had fallen, Mr Trump, 76, said:
"He did? He just fell on stage. He's at the Air Force academy. He actually fell
down? Well, I hope he wasn't hurt. I hope he wasn't hurt.

"But... the whole thing is, look, the whole thing is crazy. You gotta be careful
about that… even if you have to tiptoe down a ramp…

"Well, that's... that's a bad place to fall when you make it, I think it was the
Air Force academy, right? That's not inspiring."

Read more:
US president stumbles on steps of Air Force One
Biden falls while getting off his bike after beach ride with wife Jill

Doctors declared Mr Biden healthy and fit for duty after a physical examination
in February.

The US president was also seen stumbling on a flight of steps at the Itsukushima
Shrine in Japan during his G7 visit last month.

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