5 US Presidents Who Fell in Public: Biden Is Not Alone 

Since becoming President of the United States in 2021, Joe Biden has experienced his fair share of falls. The 80-year-old has taken a tumble everywhere, from the steps of Air Force One to his most recent incident on the stage of the Air Force Academy graduation. Biden is the oldest US President ever, but he isn't the only one to experience an embarrassing tumble in public. And if you can't help but look at photos of his falls, you aren't alone.

"It breaks the image of infallibility of powerful figures," Bart Cammaerts, a professor of politics and communication at the London School of Economics, told The Washington Post about why the public is infatuated with politicians falling down. "Think of slapstick comedy, breaking the seriousness and ceremonial aspect of the event." Here are 5 other US Presidents who took a tumble in public.

While at an event at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2020, Donald Trump stumbled but didn't tumble. However, his unsteadiness concerned people, and the hashtag #TrumpIsNotWell went viral. Trump tweeted at the time that the ramp was "very long & steep, had no handrail and, most importantly, was very slippery." The "last thing I was going to do is 'fall' for the Fake News to have fun with," he added. 

Barrack Obama was one of the younger United States Presidents, but that didn't save him from taking a near spill. While exiting Air Force 1 after a weekend golfing trip in Florida, Obama started his usually graceful de-boarding walk off the plane. However, after a quick wave and a slight jog down the stairs, the Democrat experienced a minor stumble.

George Bush went for a 17-mile bike ride in 2004 and took a spill around mile 16. According to a CNN report at the time, he suffered minor abrasions to his chin, upper lip, nose, right hand, and both knees, but was able to ride back home. In June 2003, he also fell while riding a "Segway Human Transporter" in Kennebunkport, Maine, with the photo making headlines on various websites. 

In 1984 Ronald Reagan also fell victim to the Air Force 1 stairs at the King County airport in Seattle. His guffaw was caught on camera and still lives on the Getty Images website. "The president fell on the second stair from the top, picked himself up, and waved to the crowd after earlier addressing an audience in Seattle," the caption reads. 

Gerald Ford became a Saturday Night Live punchline in June 1975 after falling down the stairs of Air Force 1 in Salzburg, Austria. While he didn't suffer any significant physical injuries, the moment was brought up repeatedly during the next election. According to the President, the fall was a result of an old knee injury paired with a slippery staircase.