# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/21 "2019-01-11T08:56:16Z")
It was of use to him, and when no longer of use was discarded without a backward glance… ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/22 "2019-01-11T09:34:52Z")
Hey guys I heard that Trump has tiny hands too. How can we best integrate this information into this topic? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/23 "2019-01-11T10:29:51Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > Serpentine, Serpentine! HA!!! Bravo!!! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/24 "2019-01-11T14:00:36Z")
[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] So for further educational purposes - here’s [Obama jogging up the stairs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufv7MeuRZ0g#t=1m8s) of AF1. Certainly as fast as you’d expect a 50 year old man in a suit to go up stairs. For contrast, here’s the [Obama family boarding AF1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k7J3oD8wMs). No running or jogging. Not that that crafty Barack sends the girls up first as decoys, then gets a bit handsy with Michelle when it’s their turn. And for further amusement - [Obama yelling at Bill Clinton to get on the damn plane](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g87ra6gQTpI). Note that when Bill finally listens and starts up the stairs around the 45 second mark, he looks like he’s barely going to make it. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/25 "2019-01-11T15:42:35Z")
> [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](#): > > 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 🙂 He does it in this one too: No running there. Although one of his shoes was a bit weighted down. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/26 "2019-01-11T16:01:48Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Hey guys I heard that Trump has tiny hands too. How can we best integrate this information into this topic? Manually. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/27 "2019-01-11T16:49:46Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > HA!!! Bravo!!! Seconded. ---
**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 11, 2019, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/28 "2019-01-11T17:33:50Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > He does it in this one too: > > No running there. Although one of his shoes was a bit weighted down. Must be a bone spur coming through. ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/29 "2019-01-11T20:21:51Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > Does Trump actually run up the stairs? Yes, just two days ago on a TV newscast. That’s what prompted me to post. ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/30 "2019-01-11T20:27:50Z")
lol !!! ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/31 "2019-01-11T20:32:36Z")
> [@XT](#): > > 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. You misspelled “Clinton.” If it really was Trump, it would be for a prime porterhouse steak, caviar-and-truffles-stuffed potato (and, if in California, pate de foie gras, just to say, “I don’t care if you say this is illegal here; I’m the President”), and vintage champagne, paid for by more cuts in welfare spending but Not A Penny Off The Pay as far as the rich are concerned. For VoldeTrump and Valor! ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/32 "2019-01-11T20:38:25Z")
LOL !!! ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/33 "2019-01-11T20:44:50Z")
> [@Gymnopithys](#): > > Yes, just two days ago on a TV newscast. That’s what prompted me to post. Video or it didn’t happen! :eek:😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/34 "2019-01-11T20:52:16Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > Does Trump actually run up the stairs? Yes, seen just two days ago on a TV newscast. That’s what prompted me to post. (And it looked rather graceless, to say the least) ---
**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 11, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/35 "2019-01-11T21:00:12Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > You misspelled “Clinton.” If it really was Trump, it would be for a prime porterhouse steak, caviar-and-truffles-stuffed potato (and, if in California, pate de foie gras, just to say, “I don’t care if you say this is illegal here; I’m the President”), and vintage champagne, paid for by more cuts in welfare spending but Not A Penny Off The Pay as far as the rich are concerned. For VoldeTrump and Valor! Trump loves fast food. Certainly it could be a steak as well. But my impression of Trump is he generally eats pretty standard (and unhealthy) fair, not the fru-fru rich folks fodder. Though I’m honestly not interested enough in the guy to check so maybe you are right. I have seen him chowing down on McDonald’s on Air Force One before though (and I think he actually gave cheese burgers to Chinese president Xi at one point as well :smack:). ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/36 "2019-01-11T21:05:29Z")
Answered to TSBG, post #8. I refrained to make a disobliging remark… ---
**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, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/37 "2019-01-11T21:56:40Z")
Clinton did eat a lot of crap when he was president (he’s vegan now I believe) but he also jogged for exercise. Trump supposedly believes that each human only has so much energy for a lifetime and if you waste it on exercise you will die sooner. ---
**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, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/38 "2019-01-11T21:58:07Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > If it really was Trump, it would be for a prime porterhouse steak, caviar-and-truffles-stuffed potato (and, if in California, pate de foie gras, just to say, “I don’t care if you say this is illegal here; I’m the President”), and vintage champagne, paid for by more cuts in welfare spending but Not A Penny Off The Pay as far as the rich are concerned. For VoldeTrump and Valor! It would not be for that. Trump famously likes steaks well done and puts ketchup on them. He also doesn’t drink alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/39 "2019-01-16T04:43:28Z")
Going up is one thing; coming down is another: [President Gerald Ford Trips And Falls - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlz0he9rtKw) ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551/40 "2019-01-16T05:16:46Z")
> [@Gymnopithys](#): > > Yes, seen just two days ago on a TV newscast. That’s what prompted me to post. > > (And it looked rather graceless, to say the least) I know I’ve seen several films where he didn’t. There’s the TP clip, for example. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-must-american-presidents-run-up-the-stairs-when-boarding-an-airplane/827551.md?page=3)