Obama's split lip and 5 other presidential injuries

Minor ailments are practically a requirement for the modern president. Here are a few notable examples from recent years

Obama is the first president to suffer an injury on the basketball court.
(Image credit: Getty)

During a pickup basketball game on Friday, President Obama was hit with an elbow to the face by opposing player Ray Deceraga, who works for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, suffering a split lip that required twelve stiches to repair. This was the first visible injury Obama has suffered on the job, but it's hardly a novelty in presidential history. The occasional presidential injury serves as a reminder that the most powerful person in the free world is, like the rest of us, all too human. Here's a brief history of some recent presidential bumps and bruises:

1. Ford falls down the stairs

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us