The 80-year-old president of the United States fell forward, caught himself with his hands, and then rose to his knees with the assistance of three persons. He returned to his seat without assistance.

Biden appeared to indicate that he had tripped over a sandbag used to hold the teleprompter in position after being helped to his feet. After the event, he mingled with other officials, beaming and giving the thumbs-up sign.

Upon returning to the White House, Biden quipped to reporters, "I got sandbagged."

The decline occurred after Biden's commencement address, in which he warned graduates that they would enter service in an increasingly unstable world, citing threats from Russia and China.

In 2024, Biden, the oldest individual to occupy the Oval Office, will seek re-election. This month, his chief Republican opponent, Donald Trump, reaches 77 years old.

When asked about Biden's fall during a rally in Iowa, Trump responded, "He truly fell? I pray he wasn't injured."

Trump added, "You must be cautious about that," even if you must "tiptoe down a ramp."

Trump's slow, cautious descent off a ramp at the United States Military Academy at West Point in June 2020 prompted some observers to doubt his agility. Afterward, Trump tweeted, "The last thing I was going to do is 'fall' for the Fake News to have fun with."

After a physical examination in February of this year, doctors deemed Biden healthy and fit for duty, observing that the vice president does not consume alcohol or tobacco and exercises "at least" five times per week.

Biden fell last June while dismounting his bicycle after catching his foot in a toe clip, but he was unharmed.

Polls indicate that Americans are concerned about a candidate over 75 becoming president. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States report that falls are the primary cause of fatal injuries among adults 65 and older.