U.S. President Donald Trump- well known for mocking Joe Biden’s awkward public moments-found himself in the spotlight this time, after stumbling while climbing the steps to Air Force One. Trump had to grip the railing to avoid falling, in an image that quickly went viral and reminded many of his predecessor’s stumbles.
The incident took place shortly after Trump spoke to reporters in Hagerstown, Maryland, where he was asked whether he plans to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to ongoing protests in Los Angeles. The demonstrations are in opposition to sweeping immigration enforcement operations carried out by ICE in recent weeks across the United States.
“It depends on whether there’s an insurrection or not,” Trump responded.
When pressed further about whether he believes an insurrection is underway, Trump said: “No, no, but there are violent people. And we’re not going to let them get away with it.” Asked if he would deploy troops even without invoking the Insurrection Act, he added: “We’ll have the military everywhere. We’re not going to let this happen to our country. We’re not going to let our country fall apart like it did under Biden.”
Trump has frequently mocked former President Joe Biden for his public slips and falls throughout his term in office. But this time, it was Trump himself who became the target of ridicule on social media.
“I’m surprised he hasn’t replaced the stairs with a mobile escalator,” quipped RC Huffman.
“Time to get Grandpa Trump a wheelchair,” said Ron Filipkowski.
“When Biden stumbled, Fox News replayed the footage on loop like it was the moon landing,” journalist Aaron Rupar commented.
“I’m looking forward to all the books and the round-the-clock media coverage,” added political analyst Marco Frieri.
Back in summer 2023, Trump had mocked Biden for collapsing shortly after delivering a speech at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s commencement in Colorado. At the time, Trump said it “wasn’t encouraging” for graduates to see the president trip over a sandbag and fall.
“I hope he didn’t hurt himself… You don’t want that to happen,” Trump remarked at a campaign event in Iowa.
Trump also referenced a 2020 incident where he himself cautiously walked down a ramp at West Point’s graduation ceremony.
“This whole thing is madness. You’ve got to be careful. You don’t want to fall, even if it means tiptoeing,” he had said then.
Following the 2024 election and Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race that summer-passing the torch to then-Vice President Kamala Harris- there was widespread media coverage about the former president’s physical and cognitive struggles. Reports suggested that Trump’s advisers had even discussed the possibility of using a wheelchair should he secure a second term in the White House.
