President Biden has made a noticeable change to his routine of walking to and from Marine One as voters continue to express concerns about his age.
Biden could previouslybe seentraveling across the South Lawn of the White House to his helicopter solo, but the president has recently been flanked by several aides, according to an Axios report.
The new patternis allegedly meantto create a visual effect that draws less attention to Biden’s shuffling, sometimes awkward and stiff gait.
Several Biden advisers told the outlet that videos of the 81-year-old president walking alone across the grass could highlight his age to reporters and voters. They said the new images and videos of the president are more favorableandaides will continue to join Biden.
From left: Anita Dunn, senior adviser to President Biden; Mike Donilon, senior adviser to President Biden; Bruce Reed, White House deputy chief of staff; and President Biden walk on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The advisers also revealed the idea came from Bidenhimself, who pushed for the new approach beforeit was implementedin mid-April.
Aides, such as close adviser Mike Donilon and deputy chiefs of staff Bruce Reed and Annie Tomasini, are now often positioned between Biden and the camera crews.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said, “He’s fully visible except for a few seconds. Impeach.”
“Weeks ago the President mentioned to aides that he’d prefer a less formal approach and said they should just walk with him. So they started walking more closely,” a White House official added.
Biden’s doctor previously revealed the president’s odd gaitis causedby “spinal arthritis” and “mild sensory peripheral neuropathy of thefeet” and he is undergoing physical therapy most days to improve his movement.
Biden has had multiple public stumbles, fallsandnear misses as president. In February, Biden slipped while he climbed the stairs to board Air Force One. In that incident, the presidentwas able tocatch himself on the handrail before continuing his climb.
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President Biden walks on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 7. (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
That stumble came after a number of near misses on Air Force One stairs in 2021 prompted the White House team to employ shorter stairs that would allow the president to climb them more easily. A New York Times reportfrom Februarynoted that the Secret Service now positions an agent at the bottom of the stairs when Biden disembarks the plane.
Biden has also begun wearing new shoes, called “Hoka Transports,”that havea wide sole for improved stability, according to an “Inside Edition” report.
“The shoe bears the seal of approval from the American Podiatric Association for being beneficial to foot health,” the report said.
Editor’s Note: This piece has been updated to include comments from White House officials.
Fox News’ Michael Lee contributed to this report.
Nikolas Lanum is an associate editor for Fox News Digital.
