President Biden appeared to trip and fall Wednesday as he was climbing steps to board Air Force One in Warsaw, Poland, according to a video of the incident.
The video shows Biden falling near the top of the stairs onto the airport tarmac before recovering, turning to say goodbye, and entering the plane. It’s unclear what caused Biden to trip down the stairs.
The incident came shortly after the president wrapped up his Eastern European trip to visit Ukraine and Poland. Biden is expected to return to Washington, D.C., Wednesday evening aboard the plane.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Biden’s apparent fall on the steps leading up to Air Force One comes nearly two years after he similarly fell on the same steps at Joint Base Andrews.
JUST IN – Biden stumbled and fell forward while going up the main stairs of Air Force One departing Warsaw, Poland pic.twitter.com/5w2FJpRcjW
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) February 22, 2023
After the March 2019 fall in which Biden was filmed tripping on several steps, the White House said he was “100 percent fine” and attributed the trip to the gusts. “It’s quite windy outside, a lot of wind. I almost fell going up the stairs. He’s 100 percent fine,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
“Nothing but a misstep on the stairs,” said White House communications director Kate Bedingfield. Biden traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a surprise visit. The president reiterated his strong support for the war-torn nation during the short trip. Biden then visited Poland, where he met with Polish President Andrzej Duda and again expressed support for the region.
“A year ago, the world was preparing for the fall of Kyiv,” Biden said during a speech in Warsaw. “Well, I just got back from a visit to Kyiv and I can report: Kyiv is strong! Kyiv is proud. It is tall. And best of all, it’s free.”
