'Elephant in the room'

 Wonder what the top news from the colonies looks like over at The Independent:

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both stumbled as they boarded Air Force One on Sunday on their way to Camp David.

The stumble came after Trump gaggled with reporters in Hagerstown, Maryland, when he was asked if he would be willing to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to the protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles.

Sounds like we need to hurry over to Fox News and see if it's true! But our top Trump headline this Sunday evening is ... a second day of coverage the great man's visit to a UFC match on Saturday. Seems odd, given that presidential near-stumbles on Air Force One are usually bigger news -- for example, in February 2024:

A new video of President Biden almost stumbling up the Air Force One steps on Tuesday had social media users questioning the world leader’s stamina and fitness.

Conservatives mocked the president, with many noting how another near-stumble ­ – on the plane’s new, shorter stairs – shows how Biden is "falling apart in real time."

One person joked that Biden would eventually have to be carried up the stairs in a "stretcher."

After Biden saluted the U.S. military personnel at the bottom of the new, shorter stairs to Air Force One, he proceeded to climb the steps and stumble, catching himself with the handrail.

Indeed, such (ahem) "stamina and fitness" was a persistent story throughout 2023. Here's a collection of that year's headlines on presidential stability from the top stories* at the Fox homepage:

Feb. 22 (#4 on the page)
Trouble on the tarmac
President trips, falls up stairs while boarding Air Force One

March 6 (#3)
Tripping troubles
Biden stumbles up the steps of Air Force One yet again after viral fall in Poland

June 2 (#4)
This isn't fair'
Biden's fall at Air Force commencement draws concern, mockery

(#8 on a later capture)
Shock and 'aww'
WATCH: Air Force cadets react after Biden falls right in front of them during commencement

June 4 (#9)
Big misstep
NY Times article on Biden's age ripped as 'slobbering,' 'embarrassing' after latest fall

June 5 (#2)
'Elephant in the room'
Biden's 'watch me moment' will haunt him in 2024 after recent fall, Republican strategists say

June 6 (#2)
'Things happen'
White House gives head-scratching answer citing MAGA when grilled on Biden falls

July 20 (#3)
Step by step
Biden reportedly changing his boarding process for AF1 to avoid tripping and falling

Sept. 26 (#4)
Step by step
Biden team takes preventative measures to stop president from falling

(#2, later capture)
Close call
Biden nearly stumbles exiting Air Force One, hours after team's efforts exposed

Oct. 13 (#4)
What a trip
80-year-old Biden stumbles, struggles to climb short staircase

If you're wondering about the correctness conditions for active vs. passive mocking (roasting, blasting, scorching, slamming, etc.), or how much dressing it takes for a political figure to produce "word salad," stay tuned.

* The top 5 through mid-March; after that, owing to some design changes, the top 10. Earlier dates have 6 to 8 screen captures a day; later ones have 4 a day, which you have to admit is more manageable