Donald Trump has been mocked online after a gust of wind sent his trademark hairstyle flying as he disembarked Marine One, with social media users ridiculing the US president over the awkward moment.
The 80-year-old was returning to Washington from New Jersey on Sunday when he was filmed carefully descending the steps of the presidential helicopter before boarding Air Force One.
Holding both handrails as he made his way down, Trump reached the bottom of the staircase just as a strong gust of wind lifted his signature blonde comb-over, briefly exposing much of his scalp.
The president's hair continued to flap in the wind as he crossed the tarmac, with footage of the incident quickly going viral on social media.
Anti-MAGA account CALL TO ACTIVISM shared the clip on X, writing: "Holy s---. Trump's entire head of hair nearly walked off his head with the wind."
The video prompted a flood of jokes from critics.
"His hair is desperately trying to escape the tyrant," one user wrote.
"That is some good glue holding his wig in place," another commented.
A third joked: "So that is why he wears that stupid hat."
Others coined nicknames including "Hair Force One", while another quipped: "Even his toupee wants to leave."
The viral clip also sparked renewed discussion about another habit observers have repeatedly noticed. As Trump walked across the runway, he appeared to slap or pat his right thigh several times, prompting fresh speculation online about his health.
"Why does he always do that pat the right leg thing?" one X user asked.
"Why is he always slapping his leg? To remind it to keep moving?" another wrote.
A third claimed: "Notice his right hand slapping his thigh. That's one of his many new dementia-related glitches."
There is no evidence linking the gesture to any medical condition.
Trump has been seen making the same movement on several previous occasions, including before descending the steps of Air Force One.
Following a similar incident last year, body language expert Judi James suggested the repeated thigh patting may simply be part of a routine to help the president focus before navigating aircraft stairs.
"The slapping gesture could actually be a form of reminder or self-motivational ritual from Trump to himself to get into this state of temporary concentration needed to take the stairs well," she said.
"It could be a prepping gesture for a man whose natural inclination would be to showboat a little or wave on arrival."
James added that aircraft steps can become more physically demanding with age.
"Plane steps have always been a minefield for leaders like Trump and he is a big guy who is probably losing some of his nimbleness with age, like we all do," she said.
