President Donald Trump Tripped Climbing Stairs to Air Force One, Sparking Heated Debate

Donald Trump’s stumble while boarding a plane has sparked a flurry of reactions from netizens comparing the president to his predecessor, who experienced something similar last year (2024).

U.S. President Donald Trump was making his way onto Air Force One to travel to Camp David on Sunday, June 8, 2025, when he faltered on the steps to the aircraft. TMZ shared a video that captured the moment on Instagram.

The footage opens with President Trump ascending the stairs to the aircraft in a dark suit, his right hand gripping the railing for support. As he makes his way upward, his foot catches on one of the steps, causing him to stumble forward.

He instinctively reaches out with his other hand to steady himself, bracing against a higher step before regaining his balance. Without pausing for long, he straightens up and continues his climb toward the aircraft cabin.

The video replays the moment in slow motion, highlighting the suddenness of the trip and Trump’s quick effort to recover.

His brief stumble sparked immediate buzz online, with viewers flooding social media comment sections to share their takes — some with humor, others with sharp irony. The parallel between Trump’s misstep and former U.S. President Joe Biden’s past slip didn’t go unnoticed, fueling jokes about poetic justice.

One person remarked, “Biden has a last laugh.” Another observed, “That’s his Joe Biden moment.” Some reactions leaned into the idea of fate.

“That’s called Karma Baby..” declared one netizen, while another chimed in with a dose of schadenfreude, saying, “How the tables have turned 😂😂.” In a similar spirit, someone wrote, “That’s what happens when you laugh at others.” Yet, not all viewers were amused.

A more forgiving voice pointed out, “Apparently everyone making comments have never trip walking up stairs. Dont worry if you haven’t you will some day i promise you that [sic].” A fellow spectator questioned, “Oh please [sic] are you serious? Have you never had a missed step?????”

Others downplayed the incident altogether, suggesting that tripping is a common and harmless mishap, with one individual simply noting that they, too, are “kinda clumsy” and trip often.

The President of the United States’ (POTUS) misstep inevitably reignited memories of a similar moment involving his predecessor, Biden, whose own ascent to Air Force One drew widespread attention in February 2024.

In the video, shared on YouTube by the New York Post, Joe Biden is seen approaching the aircraft with his signature aviator sunglasses and a cheerful expression, smiling widely at the people gathered by the plane.

After saluting military personnel stationed at the foot of the staircase, he begins his climb, holding onto one of the railings for support.

Despite the apparent ease of the shorter staircase, the 82-year-old former commander-in-chief faltered not once but twice. After he made his way up the first few steps without trouble, one of his feet briefly caught on a step, though he quickly recovered and continued forward.

Moments later, his other foot caught on another step in a similar fashion to the first. Fortunately, he maintained his balance each time and managed to make it to the top of the staircase without a full fall. He then boarded the plane en route to Los Angeles from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

While both Biden’s and Trump’s stumbles were physically minor, their symbolic weight continues to ripple across the political landscape. In the digital age, where moments are captured, replayed, and dissected in seconds, the smallest misstep can fuel debates, draw comparisons, or even invite ridicule.

Whether viewed as human moments or fodder for partisan commentary, these incidents remind us that public figures — even those in the highest office — are not immune to gravity, both literal and political.