The 80-year-old POTUS is confirmed to be 'fine' though, after taking a tumble onstage at the end of the 2023 U.S. Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado.
- Jun 2, 2023
AceShowbiz - President Joe Biden has addressed his embarrassing fall during a commencement address to Air Force grads. The 80-year-old blamed a sandbag after he fell hard when taking the stage at the 2023 U.S. Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in Colorado on Thursday, June 1.
Returning to the White House after the ceremony, Biden appeared to be in good spirits. He said, "I got sandbagged!" as reporters shouted questions about how he was feeling. He didn't add anything beyond that, but did a bit of footwork for the press to show he's okay as he was walking across the lawn.
Earlier, videos went viral of Biden taking a tumble at the event. The president, who was the featured speaker at the Air Force graduation ceremony, delivered the commencement address and proceeded to shake hands with graduates. As he stepped away, he tripped over a sandbag on the stage and fell near the podium.
Secret Service, along with an Air Force officer, rushed to his aid and helped him up. Biden quickly got back on his feet, pointed to the sandbag and carried on with the ceremony. He walked away unassisted once he was upright and continued to stand and greet people for the remainder of the ceremony.
FNC's Matt Finn tweeted, "I saw Biden go down and get back up. There was strong sun during some of the Air Force Academy grad. He stood for a long time shaking the hand of all 900+ cadets. I was keeping my eye on him, he appeared alert and in good stamina throughout. Then took fall at end, crossing stage."
White House has since issued a statement assuring that the president was uninjured. "He's fine. There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands," Ben LaBolt, the White House communications director, tweeted after videos of the incident circulated online.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also said Biden is "totally fine" while she boarded Air Force One, according to the reporters traveling with Biden.
