U.S. President Joe Biden has been seen lately rocking sneakers rather than his usual dress shoes, sparking renewed debate about his health as the 2024 presidential race between himself and Republican candidate Donald Trump heats up.
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In recent weeks, President Biden's preference for footwear has shifted toward Hoka Transport walking shoes, known for their stability-enhancing wide soles, over traditional derby shoes. This choice has been endorsed by the American Podiatric Medical Association.
Perhaps 81-year-old Biden is trying to minimize mishaps and prevent incidents like the ones he faced in 2021 on the steps of Air Force One and last year on stage at the Air Force Academy's graduation ceremony in Colorado. At least, that's what his political rivals believe.
Over the weekend, the Republican National Committee (RNC) released a video on social media captioned "Biden's handlers are forcing him to wear a new pair of 'lifestyle sneakers' because he trips so much." The post sparked a string of jokes about the president's condition, including calls for shoes named "Air Bidens," after Nike's popular Air Jordan basketball shoe line. The original video was posted two weeks ago by the news website Inside Edition, mocking the president's fashion choices.
A recent survey by ABC News found that 86% of Americans believe the Democratic president is too old for another term, expressing concerns about his mental and physical ability. Assuming he wins the election, he would finish his second term at the age of 86. Undoubtedly, the president's health condition is expected to be at the forefront of the upcoming election cycle, with his opponents likely to exploit it to undermine him.