Mounting concerns over public perception of President Joe Biden’s age have driven his team to embark on a mission to prevent any more incidents that will reinforce the idea that he’s too old to run for reelection.
According to an Axios report, “Biden’s team is taking extra steps to prevent him from stumbling in public” with minimizing the chances of another faceplant like the fall during his commencement address to graduating Air Force cadets in June being the objective.
Biden went down like a ton of bricks during the ceremony with the official excuse for his fall being that he tripped over a sandbag. But it still drew headlines that raised awareness of his troubles, and another spill could be disastrous for the administration’s high-stakes campaign to retain control of the White House.
President Joe Biden took a fall on stage at the United State Air Force Academy graduation ceremony on Thursday. America’s 80-year-old commander-in-chief was handing out diplomas during the ceremony after delivering a commencement address. https://t.co/VM2ljNFKZI
Pool camera pic.twitter.com/BgCWFkGUHF
— FoxNashville (@FOXNashville) June 1, 2023
Some measures being taken include having Biden work out with a physical therapist to improve his balance, wearing tennis shoes more often, and using a shorter staircase when getting on and off of Air Force One.
“Democrats, including some in the administration, are terrified that Biden will have a bad fall — with a nightmare scenario of it happening in the weeks before the November 2024 election,” Axios reported. “Some senior Democrats privately have been frustrated with Biden’s advance team for months, citing the sandbag incident and noting that the president often appears not to know which direction to go after he speaks at a podium.”
Team Biden narrowly avoided their nightmare scenario with the octogenarian leader appearing to slip on the short stairs when he arrived in Michigan for this photo op with striking auto workers on Tuesday.
Biden nearly loses his footing — even as he uses the short stairs to avoid such situations — as he exits AF1 in Michigan.
He then heads over to greet, among others, rabid antisemite Rashida Tlaib. pic.twitter.com/qgv5k3mO7T
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 26, 2023
Biden supporters were infuriated by the report and angrily lashed out at Axios for spilling the beans.
This isn’t a scoop. And it isn’t news.
Biden wears shoes and is exercising.
This piece was produced because you know it will be circulated on the right to advance its preferred narrative. https://t.co/8rHCjkWXEI
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 26, 2023
good to remember this is a right wing publication and always has been https://t.co/K5n3c3BAYo
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) September 27, 2023
This is embarrassing.
For Axios.
One candidate is under federal indictment and wants to be a dictator and the other bought new shoes but what’s the 2 alarm bell scoop?
The shoes. https://t.co/18VEAMScBF
— Zack Hunt (@ZaackHunt) September 26, 2023
This is a ridiculous report (that isn’t news) From an outlet that used to have higher standards. Dont see any reports on Donald’s challenges with age lately either. Do better.
— Jason Bell (@JBellSATX) September 26, 2023
I swear to Christ if you could just write “he’s a geriatric invalid don’t vote for him” you would
— TWalsh (@hogan_1969) September 26, 2023
Anything being done for Trump’s issues that we’re increasingly seeing at his events, or do you not want to report on that?
— David Darmofal (@david_darmofal) September 26, 2023
“This article fits an unfortunate pattern of media attempting to sensationalize something that has long been public, rather than covering the president’s very real achievements for hardworking Americans,” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates told Axios, continuing a pattern of the president’s lickspittles downplaying Biden’s stumbles and mental lapses as not being related to his age.
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