Joe Biden’s age and the physical and mental implications that arise from his elderly status have been heavily reported on by the media as the U.S. approaches the presidential election in November. Throughout his term, the president has demonstrated through publicly falling numerous times that he may not be completely steady on his feet.
Recently, social media and many news outlets pointed out that Biden has been seen in a number of public appearances wearing what appears to be athletic shoes of some sort. Mainstream news outlets such as Fox News and Inside Edition picked up the story, labeling Biden’s new choice of footwear as “lifestyle sneakers.”
The shoes in question are the “Hoka Transport’s,” which social media has comically labeled the “Air Bidens.” Reportedly, the shoes feature a “wide sole,” which creates a wear that is “no doubt great for stability,” causing the wearer to feel as though he or she is “walking on air.”
Officials from the White House have claimed Biden’s switch up from formal dress shoes, traditionally the choice of footwear becoming of a U.S. president, to the Hoka’s is simply for exercise. “I know y’all don’t care for presidents who exercise. But don’t worry – you’ll get used to it,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates told Fox News.
However, conservatives on social media have a different opinion on why the president is sporting the “Air Bidens,” claiming that it is evident that Biden’s staff is attempting to prevent him from continuing to fall down in public.
X account “Citizen Free Press,” wrote, “They put Biden in a chunky pair of “lifestyle sneakers” so he doesn’t trip as much,” while sharing a video from Inside Edition reporting on the shoes. Similarly, RNC Research, an X account run by the Republican National Convention, posted, “Biden’s handlers are forcing him to wear a new pair of ‘lifestyle sneakers’ because he trips so much.”
Comedian Tim Young echoed a similar sentiment writing, “Now they put Biden in “lifestyle sneakers” because he stumbles in dress shoes. Our enemies laugh at us.” Watch footage of Biden wearing these shoes below:
Other reports indicate that there could be a legitimate medical reason behind Biden switching his footwear. Reports indicate that Biden’s annual health physical last month revealed the president had been diagnosed with sensory peripheral neuropathy in his feet, which means nerve damage in layman’s terms.
“The shoe bears the seal of approval from the American Podiatric Association for being beneficial to foot health,” one report read. “Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage to nerves,” said Dr. Gabrelle Laurenti, a podiatrist who spoke about the report. “Whether it’s from trauma or a disease, there’s some kind of damage to nerves.”
Nonetheless, many people feel that this recent incident corroborates the findings of Special Counsel Robert Hur, who commented on the president’s elderly status. Hur said, “We have also considered that, at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory . . . It would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him—by then a former president well into his eighties of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.”
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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