US President Joe Biden on Thursday evening commented about the spill he took during the Air Force Academy”s commencement ceremony earlier in the day, The Associated Press reported.
Biden was greeting the graduates in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the front of the stage, and turned to jog back toward his seat when he fell. He was helped up by an Air Force officer as well as two members of his US Secret Service detail.
Speaking to reporters upon his return to the White House, Biden quipped, “I got sandbagged,” pretending to jog into the residence. Two small black sandbags had been onstage supporting the teleprompter used by Biden and other speakers at the graduation.
Tweeting after the incident, White House communications director Ben LaBolt wrote, “He”s fine. There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands.”
Biden”s age and fitness to serve have come into question, especially since he has officially announced he would seek a second term in 2024.
Biden previously stumbled before going up the stairs and onto Air Force One and, in another incident, got caught up in his bike pedals while stopping to talk to reporters near his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Biden would be 86 years old at the end of a second term and his age has already been brought up by political rivals in the election. Republican candidate Nikki Haley warned recently that a vote for Biden is a vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, because Biden is unlikely to “make it” to 86.
Biden recently said that his decision to run for reelection in 2024 was not an automatic one, and added that it is legitimate to bring up his age as he seeks another term.

Last week, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton weighed in on concerns surrounding Biden’s age, saying it’s a legitimate issue and “people have every right to consider it”.
Clinton’s comments are a departure from other Democrats, who have primarily dismissed concerns around Biden’s age.