'Extra secret service agent' appointed in case Biden trips on stairs
3 Min Read
An extra Secret Service agent was assigned to be stationed at the bottom of Air Force One's stairs due to concerns over the President tripping.
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US President Joe Biden has been filmed stumbling over three times as he boards the Air Force One. Biden was climbing up the stairs of the Presidential aircraft to depart for Atlanta when he stumbled over three times (Screengrab)
The Daily Mail reported on Wednesday, citing aides to the Biden administration, that the White House appointed an extra Secret Service agent to be stationed at the bottom of Air Force One's stairs due to concerns over the President tripping.
According to the report, the measures were implemented in response to several incidents involving President Biden, including one in Delaware in June 2022 when he was riding his bike, another at an Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony in June 2023, and multiple occasions on the stairs of Air Force One. These incidents raise both health and political concerns.
Biden frequently begins his day with a 45-minute workout led by a physical therapist, the report notes. The session focuses on balancing exercises aimed at addressing his stiff gait which was initially diagnosed during a 2021 physical examination conducted by a White House physician.
The report also mentions that Biden opts for slip-resistant sneakers instead of the traditional dress shoes typically worn with his $2,000 custom Italian suits.
Read more: Biden's latest gaffe: Pause when asked if first lady supports 2024 run
Biden's age has recently become a matter of concern in the US, especially in light of the many gaffes he has made since the start of his tenure. Some lawmakers have gone as far as labeling his health a "national security issue" that required urgent attention.
In a recent investigation regarding the claim of Biden mishandling classified documents, Special Counsel Robert Hur concluded that Biden intentionally kept and shared classified information, but did not recommend criminal charges against him.
Hur's report cited several instances of Biden experiencing lapses in memory about key points in his life and career.
Responding to the findings, Biden said he had taken responsibility for the misconduct related to the documents, but essentially blamed his staff for moving things out of his house without "having exactly seen them". Regarding the recommendations Hur suggested concerning this matter, Biden jested, "I've been president and I put this country back on its feet, I don't need his recommendation."
Reporters who discussed the file with Biden also asked him about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, to which Biden responded, mixing up the Mexican and Egyptian presidents. Referring to Egypt's El-Sisi, Biden said "The Mexican President, Sisi", once again calling into question his mental capabilities and awareness.
The remarks later elicited jests from US lawmakers about his lapse in memory, including Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee.
"Gonna build a wall with Gaza and make Mexico pay for it and boy are they gonna be confused," Senator Rand Paul said on Friday in a statement via social media platform X.
After Biden announced plans to hold a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House on February 9, Senator Mike Lee jokingly questioned whether the White House would serve Scholz "Egyptian tacos" for lunch.
