Concerns about President Joe Biden’s age and mental status continue to plague him, and he’s not doing much to help his cause.
Biden nearly face-planted again last week at a labor event in Philadelphia outlining his “Bidenomics” policies.
The incident, which was caught on video, quickly made the rounds on social media as users noted his long history of tripping and falling, which has reportedly caused a lot of concern in the White House.
“The president was waving at supporters at the Tioga Marine Terminal, when he walked to a stage to climb the stairs and suddenly tripped. He appeared to stumble twice before making it to the podium,” Fox News reported. “During his speech, he announced the building of a hydrogen hub as part of his clean energy initiative.”
According to Axios, Biden’s team is making a concerted effort to have him wear tennis shoes and limit stair climbs in order to avoid another embarrassing fall.
He is also receiving physical therapy from Drew Contreras, a specialist who previously worked with former President Barack Obama. According to the outlet, Contreras has suggested several exercises to improve the president’s balance.
After his nasty fall at the Air Force Academy in June, Biden began wearing sneakers in public this summer, which observers noticed. He also began boarding Air Force One via shorter stairs to a lower level, another precautionary measure.
Several social media users sounded off over Biden’s near fall, with some calling it “elder abuse.”
“Some senior Democrats privately have been frustrated with Biden’s advance team for months, citing the sandbag incident and noting that the president often appears not to know which direction to go after he speaks at a podium,” Axios reported.
Biden’s balance difficulties are likely the result of what his physician has diagnosed as “a combination of significant spinal arthritis” and “mild post-fracture foot arthritis.”
A public fall during the election season could derail Biden’s campaign, as he is already being scrutinized for his age.
Concerns about Biden’s fitness for office have motivated Democrats to call on him to step aside ahead of next year’s election. One of them — Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota — is so concerned he announced late last week will primary Biden.
Phillips announced his run during a CBS News interview that aired Thursday evening, according to the Daily Caller.
For months, Phillips has been teasing a presidential run, citing Biden’s age and his electability. He formally made the announcement during an interview with CBS News’ Robert Costa, arguing that 2024 needs to be “about the future.”
“I am. I have to,” Phillips told the anchor when asked if he was running. “I think President Biden has done a spectacular job for our country. But it’s not about the past. This is an election about the future. I will not sit still, I will not be quiet in the face of numbers that are so clearly saying that we’re going to be facing an emergency next November.”
The DC added:
Phillips was one of the first elected Democrats to warn against Biden running for reelection when he called for a “generational change” in July 2022. The congressman has also expressed concern that Biden’s candidacy could hand the White House back to former President Donald Trump, who has been leading the president for a potential 2024 rematch in a series of recent national and battleground state polls.
Earlier this week, Politico reported that Phillips “has begun making calls to Democratic operatives and officials in New Hampshire, the latest step he’s taken toward launching a primary challenge against” Biden.
Phillips called New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley late last week to introduce himself; Politico added that Phillips confirmed the phone call to the outlet.
