Newly released internal emails reveal that in July 2023, Former President Biden’s planned visit to inspect a National Security Multi-Mission Vessel at a Philadelphia shipyard was abruptly canceled due to concerns over the physical demands involved—specifically, the number of steps required to board the vessel.
Officials with the U.S. Maritime Administration flagged the issue, noting that “lots of steps on grating” made the visit impractical. The revelation comes just weeks after Biden, then 80, had suffered a public fall at the Air Force Academy graduation and was repeatedly seen using Air Force One’s shorter staircase. It appears that these physical considerations prompted White House staff to nix the ship inspection, despite its intended role in showcasing offshore wind and clean energy initiatives.
The emails also reflect a breakdown in coordination: while the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation were preparing the logistics, the White House advance team had not directly communicated with MARAD, leading to confusion and a last-minute cancellation.
This development follows similar incidents. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson cited access issues—again citing stair-related obstacles—when attempting to host Biden on the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales ahead of the G7 summit, raising further questions about presidential mobility.