President Donald Trump made a rare admission about his physical limitations during a speech to military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, acknowledging he must exercise caution when navigating stairs to avoid stumbles that plagued his predecessor.
The 79-year-old president told the assembled military brass that he walks down stairs very slowly after criticizing former President Joe Biden’s frequent slips. Trump stated, “I’m very careful. You know, when I walk downstairs—like I’m on stairs like these stairs—I walk very slowly.”
The president’s comments came during an hour-long address that covered various topics, including military strikes in the Caribbean Sea and his plans to deploy troops to Democratic cities. Trump emphasized that setting records for stair descent was unnecessary, advising that the goal should simply be avoiding falls because such incidents do not work out well.
Trump’s admission represents a significant departure from his typical reluctance to discuss physical limitations. The president was recently diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition affecting blood flow from leg veins back to the heart, which can cause symptoms including swollen ankles. The White House confirmed this diagnosis after photos of the president’s swollen ankles circulated widely.
Additionally, Trump has been photographed with unusual bruising on his hands, which he attempts to conceal with makeup. White House officials attributed this bruising to the president’s extensive handshaking schedule, together with his taking aspirin, which thins the blood and can increase the risk of bleeding.
The president contrasted his careful approach to stairs with Biden’s documented struggles during his term in office. Biden faced constant scrutiny every time he boarded or exited Air Force One, with multiple incidents of stumbling becoming focal points for criticism. By the 2024 election campaign, Biden had begun wearing special supportive shoes and using shorter staircases to board aircraft.
Trump has not been immune to balance issues himself. In July 2025, footage captured the president losing his balance before quickly steadying himself while boarding his aircraft after a golfing weekend in New Jersey. The president appeared stony-faced when he tripped, but composed himself to smile and wave at cameras from the top of the stairs.
During his Quantico address, Trump offered advice to the military leaders about stair navigation, telling them to be cool when walking down but cautioning against bouncing down stairs. The president noted that while former President Barack Obama bounded down stairs with ease, he still considered Obama a horrible president.
The speech sparked renewed concerns about Trump’s fitness for office among critics. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called for the president’s removal from office, citing health concerns and stating there appeared to be something genuinely wrong with Trump. Pritzker suggested the 25th Amendment should be invoked.
Social media users highlighted Trump’s rambling speech patterns during the address, with some pointing to moments where the president appeared to slur words or struggle with pronunciation. Critics used terms like “Dementia Don” to describe concerns about the president’s mental acuity during the nearly hour-long presentation.
The gathering at Quantico was described as unprecedented, with nearly 800 generals, admirals, and senior enlisted leaders ordered to attend on short notice from around the world. The event was organized to hear from Trump alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding new military standards, including no “fat” generals.
Beyond his stair-related admissions, Trump told the military audience that America was under invasion from within and doubled down on promises to deploy National Guard troops to Democratic-run cities across the country. He specifically mentioned Chicago as a potential training ground for the military, comments that contributed to Governor Pritzker’s call for his removal.
The president’s rare acknowledgment of physical limitations comes as questions about age and fitness continue to be significant factors in American politics. At 79, Trump is currently the oldest person to serve as president, surpassing the age Biden was when he left office.
Trump’s careful approach to stairs reflects a broader awareness of how physical mishaps can impact presidential image and effectiveness. His criticism of Biden’s mobility issues had been a frequent talking point, making his own admission of caution particularly noteworthy for its candid nature.
