# Why must American presidents run up the stairs when boarding an airplane ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 10, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551 "2019-01-10T20:23:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/1 "2019-01-10T20:23:26Z")
Nobody else does. I know, they want to show off their ‘dynamism’, but can’t they be more stately ? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/2 "2019-01-10T20:29:09Z")
First of all, there are plenty of airports all over the world where stairs are still used to board planes. Even massive airports like JFK still have airstair stands for small regional jets. As to why the president uses stairs, it allows him to go directly to/from the plane from his secure motorcade, without going through a jetbridge to an airport terminal. Also, he frequently lands at military bases or out-of-the-way airfields which may not have jetbridges at all. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/3 "2019-01-10T20:43:56Z")
I think the operative word in the OP is “run”. Why must the president _run_ up the stairs? ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/4 "2019-01-10T20:53:45Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > I think the operative word in the OP is “run”. Why must the president _run_ up the stairs? Because it’s a time when they’re exposed, best to limit it. Lots of high rise hotels around airports with views of taxiways. The stairs limit his range of movement and make knowing where his head will be very predictable with no cover. Every airport has stairs, but they don’t all have bulletproof tunnel stairs. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/5 "2019-01-10T20:59:06Z")
It makes him look athletic, and in a hurry to be about his Presidential business. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/6 "2019-01-10T21:05:18Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > Because it’s a time when they’re exposed, best to limit it. Lots of high rise hotels around airports with views of taxiways. The stairs limit his range of movement and make knowing where his head will be very predictable with no cover. Every airport has stairs, but they don’t all have bulletproof tunnel stairs. I’ll request a cite on that. Aren’t the end of most Presidential visits capped by diplomatic milling about on the tarmac for handshakes and well wishing, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/7 "2019-01-10T21:15:56Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > Because it’s a time when they’re exposed, best to limit it. Lots of high rise hotels around airports with views of taxiways. The stairs limit his range of movement and make knowing where his head will be very predictable with no cover. Every airport has stairs, but they don’t all have bulletproof tunnel stairs. > > Enjoy, > Steven That is certainly why I would do it, were the country unlucky enough to have me as President. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/8 "2019-01-10T21:16:30Z")
Does Trump actually run up the stairs? ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/9 "2019-01-10T21:19:05Z")
I personally would run because AF1 seems like a pretty cool way to travel and I would rather be on the plane ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/10 "2019-01-10T21:20:20Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > Does Trump actually run up the stairs? I think in Trump’s case (assuming he actually does, which I’m skeptical of), it’s to get to the double (or triple) cheese burger, large fries and trough sized coke waiting for him at the top. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/11 "2019-01-10T21:21:19Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > Because it’s a time when they’re exposed, best to limit it. Serpentine, Serpentine! ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/12 "2019-01-10T21:51:45Z")
With president who aren’t Trump, I would presume that they consider themselves to be ‘on the job’, and don’t feel like dawdling is a great way to spend their time. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/13 "2019-01-10T22:32:42Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > I think the operative word in the OP is “run”. Why must the president _run_ up the stairs? Moving target? ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/14 "2019-01-10T23:15:43Z")
I always used to run up stairs. That’s what stairs are for. If I was fit enough, I’d still run up stairs. If I was president and fit enough to run up stairs, I’d certainly run up the stairs as president. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/15 "2019-01-11T01:31:20Z")
I was asking seriously–does he run up the stairs? Because he sure doesn’t seem built for running. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/16 "2019-01-11T02:19:23Z")
1. To avoid the embarrassment of having the plane take off without him. 2. No toilet facilities in the motorcade. 3. It’s “first come, first served” at the donut tray. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/17 "2019-01-11T03:26:50Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > Does Trump actually run up the stairs? How about it. Does anyone have any video evidence of Trump running… ever? Running his fat lying mouth not included for purposes of cardio vascular maintenance purposes. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/18 "2019-01-11T03:32:30Z")
OK, for educational purposes, here is Trump ascending carpeted stairs to board AF1. Be your own judge about running/not running. Try not to become distracted by the umbrella, that’s why he employs it, to distract you. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avkkdrjDsTA) ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/19 "2019-01-11T05:04:00Z")
Something I hadn’t noticed in this clip before: the funny fluttery movements of his right hand on the handrail. And, no, he is not running 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/20 "2019-01-11T05:11:32Z")
[quote=“bobot, post:18, topic:827551”] OK, for educational purposes, here is Trump ascending carpeted stairs to board AF1. Be your own judge about running/not running. Try not to become distracted by the umbrella, that’s why he employs it, to distract you. [/QUOTE] It looked for all the world as though Trump was going to be stuck at the top of the steps with his umbrella, like this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KlPxL1v0qdw/maxresdefault.jpg "Dog's Stick is Too Big to Fit through the Door") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlPxL1v0qdw) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551.md?page=2)