Let’s face it — when the President of the United States takes a tumble, it’s never exactly great PR. But somehow, it keeps happening.
Joe Biden had his fair share of stumbles, and now it looks like Donald Trump isn’t immune either. Naturally, the internet couldn’t resist pointing it out.
Joe Biden’s health has been a topic of discussion for quite some time — and it ultimately led him to withdraw from his presidential campaign and hand things over to Kamala Harris.
His frequent falls didn’t exactly help reassure voters about his fitness for office.
According to NBC, Biden’s aides realized they had a serious problem when the former president tripped hard over a sandbag at the Air Force Academy’s graduation ceremony. In a post-event recap, several aides tried to figure out what had gone wrong and how to make sure such an embarrassing — and potentially dangerous — incident would “never happen again.”
In the months that followed, his team appeared to make quiet concessions to his age, all in hopes of avoiding viral moments that might reinforce public concerns about his ability to serve. One of those changes included having Biden use the shorter set of stairs to board and disembark the presidential aircraft, rather than the traditional grand staircase used by his predecessors.
But apparently, those Air Force One steps still have a sneaky way of tripping people up.
Caught on video
On Sunday, June 8, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump experienced a brief but highly visible stumble while boarding Air Force One, reigniting a wave of reactions online — and a flood of comparisons to his predecessor Joe Biden’s own awkward moment last year.
The moment was caught on video and shared by TMZ on Instagram, showing President Trump dressed in a dark suit, carefully climbing the stairs to the aircraft. His right hand gripped the railing for support, but suddenly his foot caught on a step, causing him to falter forward.
Quick to react, Trump extended his free hand to steady himself on a higher step, regained his balance, and continued climbing without missing a beat.
The clip, replayed in slow motion, captured the stumble in all its suddenness—prompting a storm of responses on social media that ranged from humor to sharp irony.
Some online commentators didn’t hold back their amusement. One wrote, “Biden has a last laugh.”
”His Joe Biden moment”
Another added, “That’s his Joe Biden moment.” The word “karma” made several appearances, with one netizen declaring, “That’s called Karma Baby..” and another chiming in, “How the tables have turned 😂😂.” In a similar spirit, one observer said, “That’s what happens when you laugh at others.”
But not all reactions were mocking. Some voices were quick to defend the president’s stumble as something anyone could experience.
One commenter pointed out, “Apparently everyone making comments have never trip walking up stairs. Dont worry if you haven’t you will some day i promise you that [sic].” Another questioned the harsh judgment, asking, “Oh please [sic] are you serious? Have you never had a missed step?????”
Others shrugged off the incident altogether, reminding everyone that tripping on stairs is common and harmless. One self-described “kinda clumsy” individual admitted they trip often too.
This recent event inevitably brought memories back to Joe Biden’s similar clumsy moments boarding Air Force One.
In 2024, Biden, sporting his signature aviators and a broad smile, was filmed saluting military personnel before ascending the steps. The 82-year-old former president, despite the short staircase, stumbled twice — his feet catching briefly on the steps — but managed to maintain balance and reach the top safely.
Though minor in physical consequence, these stumbles carry outsized symbolic meaning in today’s hyper-connected political climate. A single misstep, captured on camera and endlessly replayed, becomes fuel for debate, comparison, and sometimes ridicule.
Whether it’s viewed as a simple human moment or a political metaphor, these incidents remind us that no matter how powerful or public, even presidents can’t escape the occasional slip — literal or figurative.