Whenever President Donald Trump flies from the nation’s capital, the most powerful person on the planet is under constant scrutiny.
Footage of 80-year-old Trump boarding and leaving his plane is fueling social media chatter, with viewers scrutinizing his strange movements.
Rainy flights have now added another awkward detail and struggle moment with the aircraft stairs for Trump.
Trump traveled to northeast Ohio on Aug. 11 aboard Air Force One for the inaugural Patriot Games youth athletic competition in Geneva.
He stepped onto the tarmac in windy, rainy conditions, where a military aide handed him an umbrella.
Upon arriving in Ohio, the president slowly exited the airplane into windy and wet conditions. A military aide handed him an umbrella at the plane’s door.
Trump fumbled with the umbrella from the start. Viewers zoomed in as cameras captured him gripping it near the top as a strong gust blew his open suit jacket. He held it in his left hand while gripping the aircraft’s railing with his right and slowly making his way down the stairs.
The scene quickly drew attention online, with some viewers mocking his pace, hair, and apparent struggle with the umbrella.
He held the umbrella in his left hand while shielding his face from cameras.
He slowly walked down the steps. Viewers noticed the cheers in the background and wondered who was cheering in the rain,”His kids?” The crowd continued with a USA chant until Trump made it to Marine One.
But his struggle across the tarmac has viewers zooming in on his tight grip, cautious steps and hair, which has become a major topic of conversation in recent days following his debut of a new look.
“Look how low he holds the umbrella. He’s worried about his toupee,” joked one person on X.
Similarly, someone tweeted, “Not to mention that his hair is praying that he loses the umbrella so it can finally fly free for good.”
“And you just know he didn’t say thank you to the guy who handed the open umbrella to him. Uncouth walker,” an annoyed commenter suggested.
The mockery continued as another X user stated, “OMG, my dead grandmother can walk down the stairs faster than that.”
Trump’s hair took center stage Tuesday afternoon when cameras caught him climbing Air Force One’s stairs. His signature blond hair flapped in the wind as he left Washington, D.C., for Ohio.
“That doesn’t look like his new tragic wig. That’s his classic comb-over, comb-under, comb-around, and hope-for-the-best. Either way, he looks ridiculous,” read one tweet.
A separate poster pointed out, “Really clinging to that railing too. Looks like he’s gonna fall down.” Trump’s hardships at airports have become routine.
The umbrella has already caused Trump another viral moment this month.
He flew back to Washington after his favorite pastime at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.
Trump stepped onto the tarmac at Maryland’s Joint Base Andrews following his golf outing, again with an umbrella in his hand. A uniformed military officer met him on the airstrip.
Within seconds, the president accidentally smacked his greeter in the head with the umbrella. The man had to duck out of the way to avoid having his face hit.
Instead of acknowledging the mishap, Trump just began waving and randomly mouthed the words “thank you” toward onlookers at the scene.
He then got into a black SUV before giving the open umbrella to a woman waiting by the vehicle. A 15-second clip of the whole encounter spread across the internet for days.
Trump’s age and physical movements have fueled repeated online speculation about his stamina and health, making even mundane moments on the tarmac fodder for viral commentary.
