EXTRA: Biden trips, falls at US air force academy graduation

United States President Joe Biden tripped and fell on stage at the country’s air force academy graduation ceremony in Colorado.

Biden delivered the opening address and proceeded to shake hands with graduates, after which he fell near the podium and was quickly assisted by those around him in returning to his feet.

The 80-year-old president walked back to his seat unassisted after the incident which happened on Thursday.

Ben LaBolt, the White House communications director, clarified that the US president only tripped over a sandbag that was left on stage after videos of the incident began to circulate online.

He's fine. There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands. https://t.co/jP4sJiirHh

— Ben LaBolt (@WHCommsDir) June 1, 2023

Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, also said Biden was “totally fine”.

Biden is the oldest sitting US president in history and would be 86 at the end of his second term should he win his re-election bid in 2024.

Some citizens had expressed concerns about his age and health but the US president said it would be up to voters to judge “whether or not I have it or don’t have it”.