At this rate, it may only be a matter of time before a stairlift chair is added as mandatory equipment aboard Air Force One.
President Biden nearly fell while boarding AF1 on Tuesday, even though he was using the short stairs that led him into the belly of the aircraft and presumably through the cargo hold area. The stumble came on the heels of a report that a Secret Service agent will now be tasked with stopping Biden from faceplanting on the aircraft’s stairs.
VIGOR: Biden almost trips (twice) as he boards Air Force One — despite using the short stairs to avoid tripping pic.twitter.com/CkoLnwLV2q
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 20, 2024
The 81-year-old president’s adventures navigating the stairs have become such a problem that it merits special attention, according to the New York Times.
“Even the way Mr. Biden walks to the presidential aircraft is subject to careful management. The president started taking a short flight of stairs directly into the belly of Air Force One, rather than a tall stairway wheeled up to a higher point on the plane after he tripped and fell over a sandbag during a commencement ceremony this past summer. Now, there is a Secret Service agent positioned at the bottom of the stairs when he disembarks,” the newspaper reported earlier this month.
According to The New York Times, a Secret Service agent is now “positioned at the bottom of the stairs” — even the short stairs — whenever Biden boards or disembarks to make sure he doesn’t trip. pic.twitter.com/FNlGYMvawQ
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 17, 2024
Axios reported in September that Biden works with a physical therapist on exercises to improve his balance and that he has been wearing tennis shoes more often to avoid slipping. Apparently, Biden’s doctor recommended exercises for balance, aka “proprioceptive maintenance maneuvers.”
The short stairs on Air Force One were another measure taken… apparently to no avail.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
And those are the SHORT stairs!!!
— Dan Dorsey (@dorsey_danno) February 20, 2024
He’ll need to start riding the conveyor belt into the baggage compartment soon. Just lay down, and zoooop, he’s in.
— Rooster Tooth (@Rooster__Tooth) February 20, 2024
Stair Force One is coming soon pic.twitter.com/BLfcvrg6Nd
— Marc Cocteaustan (@Igor_Cocteau) February 20, 2024
I literally just ruptured my entire Achilles Tendon and can still walk up stairs better than this man.♂️
— Mark – My Words (@MarkMyWordsXYZ) February 20, 2024
They need to install a stairlift on Airforce and Marine One pic.twitter.com/sxxR9esfjC
— Dr. Eric Caddel (@EricCaddel) February 21, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
- ‘WOW!’ CBS goes full Nick Shirley in California - March 20, 2026
- ‘PAPER TIGER!’ Trump calls NATO members ‘cowards’ over Iran - March 20, 2026
- Just like that, San Francisco removes statue of Cesar Chavez - March 20, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.