WATCH: Biden Almost Trips Twice While Climbing Up Air Force One Steps
President Joe Biden narrowly avoided a double stumble as he made his way up the Air Force One steps Tuesday.
The incident occurred as Biden, the oldest person in history to serve as president at 81, prepared to depart Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland for California, where he is set to engage in fundraising activities for his reelection campaign.
The footage, published by TMZ, captured Biden saluting U.S. military personnel at the base of the reported new, shorter stairs to Air Force One before encountering difficulty during his climb.
About halfway up, Biden appeared to trip slightly on one step, quickly gripping the railing to steady himself. In a near-repeat, he stumbled on the following step.
A Secret Service agent stationed at the bottom of the stairs closely monitored the situation, as seen in the video.
Despite the close calls, Biden managed to regain his balance and safely board the plane without falling.
After the video circulated, some conservatives took to social media to question the president's health and fitness.
The Republican National Committee's research arm, RNC Research, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "Biden almost trips (twice) as he boards Air Force One -- despite using the short stairs to avoid tripping."
Critics raised concerns about Biden's well-being, with X account Citizen Free Press suggesting he is "falling apart in real time."
Conservative digital strategist Alec Sears sarcastically remarked, "Lots of vigor on display here."
RNC operative Jake Schneider asked, "What comes after the short stairs? Strapping Biden onto a stretcher and carrying it?"
What comes after the short stairs? Strapping Biden onto a stretcher and carrying it? https://t.co/etOSjLNPY6
— Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) February 20, 2024
Earlier this month, The New York Times reported that Biden's aides started having the president use shorter stairs to board Air Force One as part of their measures to manage and protect him.
Biden has experienced several stumbles during his presidency, including incidents while boarding Air Force One.
In March 2021, he stumbled twice and fell while boarding the aircraft en route to Georgia -- which then-White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre attributed to an ill-timed gust of wind, according to the New York Post.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting about countering the flow of fentanyl into the United States, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House November 21, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Biden also briefly lost his balance while climbing the steps in May 2022, preventing a fall by gripping the handrail tightly.
In February 2023, Biden tripped on the steps of Air Force One while departing from Poland, but he managed to regain his footing and continue his ascent.
Biden also made headlines in June last year when he fell on stage during a commencement ceremony at the Air Force Academy, as seen in a video shared by ABC News.
Despite these incidents, Biden has maintained that he is fit for the presidency.
"The only thing I can say is they're going to see a race, and they're going to judge whether I have or don't have it," Biden was quoted as saying by The Hill in April 2023 following his announcement that he was joining the 2024 presidential race.
