Trump stumbles up the stairs to Air Force One, stoking memory of Biden tripping video
A video of President Donald Trump went viral over the weekend after he appeared to briefly stumble while climbing the steps of Air Force One.
After talking to reporters in Morristown, New Jersey on June 8, Trump boarded the plane on his way to Camp David. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was traveling with him and also appeared to trip while climbing the stairs.
The clip has been widely shared on social media, racking up millions of views.
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Trump is tied with former President Joe Biden for the oldest president to be sworn into office. Republicans have repeatedly hammered Biden's age and pointed to a video of Biden tripping up the stairs as they argued he was unfit for office.
On March 19, 2021, Biden fell while climbing the steps of Air Force One, which his press secretary at the time blamed on the wind, according to ABC News.
But Trump and his allies used that clip repeatedly in campaign ads like "Jugular," "Who Is Laughing Now," and "Not A Young Guy," painting him as unfit to serve another four years in the Oval Office.
Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential election after a disastrous debate against Trump as he struggled to answer questions coherently, raising insurmountable questions about his mental acuity. Biden's recent advanced-cancer diagnosis has amped up questions and accusations about his age and fitness in office. Multiple accounts have detailed White House efforts to conceal Biden's aging decline since he left office.
Trump recently ordered a Department of Justice investigation into Biden's supposed "cognitive decline," alleging his administration misused the autopen to sign orders, which Biden called "false" and a "distraction."
Trump is 78. He will be 79 on June 14, 2025.
Biden is 82 years old.
He is the oldest president to hold office. By the end of his term, Trump will be 82 and tie Biden for the record.
Contributing: Bart Jansen, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump stumbles on plane steps walking to Air Force One; Rubio too
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