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How did Joe Biden fall? Jen Psaki calls stairs 'tricky' days after WH blamed wind for Air Force One tumble

Press Secretary Psaki said Air Force One's stairs can be 'a little tricky sometimes' and said he did not need medical attention after the fall

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki blamed the stairs on Air Force One for President Joe Biden's tumble, days after the White House blamed the wind. In a press briefing, Psaki told reporters, "I don't know if you've been up those steps they're a little tricky sometimes." The president fell when climbing the stairs of Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews on Friday, March 19. 

While he did not appear injured at the time, Psaki refused to admit whether Biden was looked at by the doctor. "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. 

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The much-memed moment has sparked both outrage and concern, with conservatives trolling Biden as unfit for the job, while supporters have rushed to his defense. While the trolling died down over the weekend, it has since re-ignited following Psaki's comments. 

Biden stumbles at Andrews

When boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Biden stumbled and fell three times on the steps. The president didn't seem to show any signs of injury, walking around Atlanta after the slip. Biden walked around Emory College and met with officials and Asian American groups before giving a speech on rising hate crimes. He then returned back to DC without incident. 

On the plane, White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, "It’s pretty windy outside. It’s very windy. I almost fell coming up the steps myself." Blaming the wind seemed to be the official line, at least until Psaki's remarks.

She added that Biden was "100% fine" after the fall, which may or may not be completely true. In November, Biden injured his foot while playing with his dog Major. He was diagnosed with multiple hairline fractures after the incident, requiring him to wear a walking boot for several weeks. 

As the oldest person to become president, 78-year-old Biden's age has naturally become a major cause for concern. Many on the internet have trolled Biden as being too old to lead, causing supporters to hit back at Trump's multiple gaffes and health concerns. 

'Was he 100% ok before he fell?'

After Psaki's comments, the feud over Biden's health re-ignited on Twitter. `One user asked, "Was President Biden 100% ok before he fell 3 times going up the stairs to Air Force One?" "Biden press secretary states Biden tripped 3 times on stairs going up to the plane the other day because (drum roll) — 'The wind blew him over.' Unbelievable spin doctoring" another commented. One user said, "Illegals flooding in, checks $600 short, taxes going up, and Biden can’t walk up stairs."

Others rushed to Biden's defense. One user tweeted, "It amazes me how judgemental everyone is. I'm a lot younger than Biden and I have fallen up stairs and even called one child the name of my other child. I must be unhealthy and have dementia. Don't we all have better things to do?" Another user tweeted, "Why we so focused on Biden tripping on the stairs? I literally did the same thing the other week. I’m not sure what y’all’s point is lol."

Others slammed Fox News for its relentless coverage of Biden's fall. Fox is reportedly yet to address a mass shooting in Boulder with host Sean Hannity talking about Biden instead. "There was a mass shooting in Boulder and @seanhannity is talking about Biden falling on the stairs. That's a real journalist right there..." one user tweeted.

Another said, "CNN is covering the mass shooting in Boulder right now. MSNBC is covering the shooting in Boulder right now, along with the recent mass shooting in Atlanta and violence against Asian Americans. Fox is covering... *checks notes* Biden tripping up the stairs 3 days ago."

It's unclear what the actual cause for Biden's fall is, but it is most likely just a slip as the president was sprinting up the stairs. Weather reports from the day put the wind breeze at around 19mph, categorized as a "fresh breeze" by the Beaufort Scale. Biden isn't the first president to trip on the stairs of Air Force One, but given his age, it will be a gaffe that will come back to haunt him.