Trump randomly, elaborately defends his West Point ramp descent in Wall Street Journal interview


Remember that brief story about President Trump's slow, labored walk down a ramp at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point last weekend? Trump does. Like most mildly embarrassing moments Trump subsequently spotlights, he quickly tweeted an excuse, saying the ramp was "long and steep," and "very slippery." Trump brought it up again in an interview Thursday with Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Bender.
After his "very good speech, according to everybody," to West Point graduates, Trump said, the superintendent asked if he was ready to leave the stand. Trump continued:
And he led me to a ramp that was long and steep and slippery. And I said, I got a problem because I wear, you know, the leather bottom shoes. I can show them to you if you like. Same pair. And you know what I mean, they're slippery. I like them better than the rubber because they don't catch. ... So I'm going to go real easy. So I did. And then the last 10 feet I ran down. They always stop it just before I ran, they always stop it. So, I spent three hours between speeches and saluting people and they end up, all they talked about is ramp. ... If you would have seen this ramp, it was like an ice skating rink. ...The amazing thing is The Washington Post did a story. ... Rampgate has nothing to do with Trump's health. This was in The Washington Post. This was one of the great shockers of all time. ... The writer, named Henry Olsen. I said, I can't believe The Washington Post. I gained respect for The Washington Post. They said they had a picture. Look. This is steel. Steel. [President Trump to The Wall Street Journal]
Olsen, a conservative columnist, did write that while "the ramp was not wet because the weather was dry and sunny," everyone knows "a ramp can be slippery for many reasons other than being wet," like having "smooth surfaces meant to facilitate wheelchairs." And his column did have a photo of Trump's path off the stage; it shows non-slip strips every stride length along a painted ramp. Read Trump's entire interview at The Wall Street Journal.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami