Biden doubles use of shorter stairs to board Air Force One since viral flop: report

President Joe Biden’s use of the shorter staircase to board Air Force One has doubled since his embarrassing flop when he tripped during a graduation ceremony last month, a report said.

The White House appears to be making concessions for the 80-year-old Biden as he prepares to run for a second term so that a viral fall or blunder “never happens again,” according to an analysis by NBC News.

One of the adjustments appears to be the treacherous climb up the stairs to the presidential — usually an iconic image for past presidents.

“You can’t be too careful,” one aide told the outlet.

The shorter set of stairs, which enters the plane’s belly, was used by the commander in chief to board Air Force One just 37% of the time before his viral trip at the Air Force Academy’s commencement in Colorado.

In the past seven weeks, however, the report said Biden has used the short stairs 84% of the time, or 31 out of the 37 times he’s gotten on and off the plane.


According to an analysis, President Biden has been boarding Air Force One using a shorter staircase more often to prevent another trip.
According to an analysis, President Biden has been boarding Air Force One using a shorter staircase more often to prevent another trip.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

The adjustment came after Biden took a hard fall on stage at the Air Force Academy commencement ceremony in June.
The adjustment came after Biden took a hard fall on stage at the Air Force Academy commencement ceremony in June.
Reuters

The White House refused to comment to NBC on the stair situation while an aide told the network that the decision came down to the weather.

Meanwhile, even former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton admitted that President Biden’s advanced age is an issue for his electability in 2024.

“It’s a concern for anyone. We’ve had presidents who had fallen before who were a lot younger, and people didn’t go into heart palpitations,” Clinton said.


Biden has used the shorter set of stairs 84% of the time in the past seven weeks.
Biden has used the shorter set of stairs 84% of the time in the past seven weeks.
AP Photo/Susan Walsh

Biden tripping while climbing the stairs of Air Force One in Warsaw, Poland.
Biden tripping while climbing the stairs of Air Force One in Warsaw, Poland.
Reuters

“But, you know, he has this great saying — and I think he’s right — don’t judge him for running against the Almighty but against the alternative. I am of the camp that I think he’s determined to run.”

Clinton still urged voters to side with the president and said Biden rarely gets the credit he deserves “in terms of jobs and growth and planning for the future with CHIPS and other stuff.”