Joe Biden has tripped and fallen during a graduation ceremony at the US Air Force academy.

The American president, 80, was quickly helped up by three people, and walked back to his seat unassisted following the incident in Colorado.

As the leader was helped up, he pointed behind him, seeming to indicate what he tripped over.

White House communications director Ben LaBolt said Mr Biden was fine.

“There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands,” he said.

Mr Biden, who stood for much of the hours-long ceremony to shake hands with graduates, appeared to trip over something and fell to his knees towards the end.

He was helped up by an Air Force officer as well as two members of his US Secret Service detail. Onlookers, including some members of the official delegation on stage, looked over in concern before the leader returned to his seat.

At the presentation, he gave salutes to the blue-uniformed graduates.

In his address in Colorado Springs to more than 900 cadets, the US commander-in-chief warned graduates they will enter service in an increasingly unstable world, citing challenges from Russia and China.

The president is running for re-election in 2024.

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Doctors declared him healthy and fit for duty after a physical examination in February.

The US president was also seen stumbling on a flight of steps at the Itsukushima Shrine in Japan during his G7 visit last month.

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