‘The stairs are a little tricky’: First it was the wind, now Jen Psaki blames Biden’s tumble on Air Force One’s stairway but WON’T say whether or not a doctor examined him
- White House blamed stairs on Air Force One for President Biden’s fall on Friday
- ‘He’s 100% fine, I don’t know if you’ve been up those steps they’re a little tricky sometimes,’ White House press secretary Jen Psaki said
- Originally officials blamed the breeze on a windy day
- Psaki punted on whether or not a doctor examined the president
- ‘I’m not aware of that being required. There’s, of course, a doctor who travels with the president, any president of the United States,’ Psaki said
- ‘I’m not aware of it needing actual, extensive medical attention,’ she noted
- Biden tripped multiple times Friday when boarding Air Force One for a trip to Atlanta, raising questions about his health
The White House blamed the stairs on Air Force One for President Joe Biden’s fall on Friday, after first blaming the breeze.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden, 78, was ‘100 per cent fine’ but she didn’t say whether or not he was examined by a doctor after he fell multiple times trying to board the 747 presidential aircraft for his trip to Atlanta. A medical team always travels with the president where ever he goes.
‘He’s 100% fine, I don’t know if you’ve been up those steps they’re a little tricky sometimes,’ Psaki said Monday at her daily press briefing.
And she punted on whether or not a doctor examined the president.
‘I’m not aware of that being required. There’s, of course, a doctor who travels with the president, any president of the United States, but I’m not aware of it needing actual, extensive medical attention,’ she said.
She didn’t clarify when reporters at the briefing pointed out she didn’t say no.
‘I’m not trying to be a, there’s a doctor who travels with him. He was walking around, as you all saw, by the end of the day so I’m just trying to be completely transparent. He is absolutely fine,’ she noted.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki blamed the stairs on Air Force One for President Joe Biden’s fall on Friday
President Biden trying to regain balance on the steps of Air Force One on Friday after stumbling multiple times
Biden named Dr. Kevin O’Connor as his doctor, replacing Dr. Sean Conley, who was the White House physician for President Donald Trump. O’Connor acted as Biden’s physician when Biden was vice president.
Biden was boarding the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews just before noon on Friday for a flight to Atlanta when he stumbled. He gripped on to the railing, steadied himself and kept going but lost his footing a second time and then a third.
On the third trip, he fell to his knees. He got back up then carried on up the stairs before giving a salute at the top then disappearing into the aircraft.
He walked around Atlanta after his slip, including boarding and exiting Marine One without incident. During his several hours on the ground he walked around Emory College campus for meetings with local officials and Asian American groups. He also gave remarks on the rising tide of hate crimes against Asian Americans.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, speaking to reporters on the plane on Friday, blamed the weather for the fall.
‘It’s pretty windy outside. It’s very windy. I almost fell coming up the steps myself,’ she said.
Wind gusts were 19mph at Joint Base Andrews when the president was boarding the plane which is officially categorized as a ‘fresh breeze’ by the internationally recognized Beaufort Scale.
Biden’s first stumble as he bounded up the stairs of Air Force One
The President then lost his balance again and fell to his knees on the carpeted stairs
Once at the top of the stairs, Biden gave a military salute before disappearing into the aircraft. The White House says he is 100% fine and is preparing for his trip in Atlanta
The fall raised additional questions about the president’s health. Biden is the oldest president to ever be inaugurated.
Ronald Reagan was 77 when he left office and he was 69 when he was elected.
Trump was 70 when elected and was 74 when he left office earlier this year.
Biden also has made verbal slips, including recently referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as ‘President Harris.’
In November, Biden was walking in a boot after breaking his foot while playing with his dog, Major.
His doctor at the time said he was otherwise in good health.