Trump claims Biden’s latest tumble is ‘not inspiring’

Donald Trump has claimed Joe Biden’s trip and fall in Colorado was “not inspiring” despite saying he hoped the president wasn’t hurt.

Biden, who could face Republican frontrunner Trump next year in a re-run of the 2020 presidential election, tripped and fell after handing out diplomas at a graduation ceremony for the US Air Force Academy.

Biden, the US’s oldest serving president at 80, was helped back up to his feet and appeared to be unhurt from the fall, which came after he had been standing for about 90 minutes to shake hands with each of the 921 graduating cadets.

Trump reacted to the incident from a campaign event in Iowa, saying “the whole thing is crazy”.

“I hope he wasn’t hurt,” said Trump, 76, who has frequently poked fun at Biden’s age. “That’s not inspiring.”

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Trump made headlines in 2020 when his own careful walk off a stage went horribly wrong.

He added: “You got to be careful about that because you don’t want that. Even if you have to tip-toe down the ramp.”

Video from the incident appeared to show Biden appearing to point at one of two sandbags used to prop up his teleprompter as he was helped up by an Air Force official and members of his Secret Service detail.

He was seen walking back to his seat unassisted and later jogging to his motorcade. At one point he called out to reporters: “I was sandbagged!”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden was feeling “totally fine” and had boarded his plane flashing “a big smile”.

The falls follows previous stumbles from his bicycle and on the way up the Air Force One stairs.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another 2024 contender for the Republican nomination, reacted to the fall during a campaign event in New Hampshire by saying: “We hope and wish Joe Biden a swift recovery from any injuries he may have sustained.

“But we also wish the United States of America a swift recovery from the injuries it has sustained because of Joe Biden and his policies.”

Biden’s last physical examination took place in February with White House physician Dr Kevin O’Connor writing at the time: “The president remains fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations.”