US President Joe Biden has made headlines again for his advanced age, after being seen falling twice when boarding Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Tuesday, reigniting discussions over his mental health and physical well-being.
The trip comes months after Joe Biden slipped as he climbed the steps to board Air Force One, albeit using a simple short stairway.
The cameras caught the 81-year-old tripping as he walked on to his jet, escaping a tumble.
The trip has heightened the call for an assessment of the mental faculties of the oldest president in US history.
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations and Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has been asking for the evaluation of the mental capacities of political leaders aged over 75 during her electoral rallies.
Last Monday, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said: “Biden should come out and debate and show the American public that he has the cognitive capacity to do this very, very difficult job.”
Last week, Republicans in Congress sent Biden a letter requesting a cognitive test to demonstrate his mental fitness for the presidency.
The letter was led by Ronny Jackson, a former White House physician and chief medical adviser to former President Donald Trump, and signed by 83 House Republicans.
“Following the recent report by Special Counsel Robert Hur, we write to voice our significant concerns regarding your current cognitive state and capacity to successfully execute the functions of the Presidency, particularly as Chief Executive,Head of State, and Commander in Chief,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.
“This is the fifth time we’ve sent a letter to the White House demanding Biden take a cognitive exam, however, while the administration has chosen to ignore each of these requests, it is becoming clearer each day that the President is not cognitively fit,” Jackson said in a press release.
“I am proud to be joined by Conference Chairwoman Stefanik, Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler and dozens of my House colleagues in this effort.”
Last June, President Joe Biden faltered and collapsed while presenting the final diploma at the US Air Force Academy’s graduation ceremony.
With the assistance of three others, the 80-year-old president quickly regained his balance and returned to his seat unaided.
