During his recent trip to China, California Governor Gavin Newsom found himself at the center of attention not for his meetings on climate change, but for a mishap on the basketball court. While taking a break from his official duties, Newsom joined a group of Beijing schoolchildren for a friendly game of basketball. Dressed in slacks, an open-collared shirt, and dress shoes, the governor tried to showcase his ball handling skills, twirling the basketball on his fingertip and executing a spin move towards the basket.

However, the playful moment took a turn when a young boy reached for the ball in front of him, and Newsom seemingly failed to notice another student on his left. The result was a collision that sent both the governor and the child tumbling to the ground. Despite the mishap, both parties quickly recovered, with Newsom wrapping the boy in a bear hug and playfully patting his back. The incident was captured on video and swiftly circulated online, sparking a flurry of snarky comments and headlines mocking the governor's basketball skills.

This is not the first time a politician's attempt at a sporty photo op has backfired. Former British politician Boris Johnson, when he was mayor of London, knocked down a 10-year-old boy while playing rugby in Japan. Similarly, former US President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore faced criticism for their jogging sessions in snug short-shorts. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry was mocked in an ad for his windsurfing hobby, which was seen as evidence of his perceived lack of principles. Even former President George W. Bush's love for mountain biking occasionally led to tumbles, including a collision with a police officer in Scotland.

Despite the embarrassing incident, Newsom's trip to China was not without its successes. The governor had a surprise meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, a moment that was highly publicized and marked a positive development in the strained China-U.S. relationship. Newsom's visit aimed to renew friendship and engagement on crucial issues, such as climate change and the trafficking of fentanyl, a drug responsible for numerous deaths in the U.S. that often originates from China.

It is worth noting that Newsom's stumble on the basketball court provided a lighthearted moment in an otherwise serious trip. The governor was an athletic standout in his youth, playing basketball and baseball in high school and even earning a partial baseball scholarship to Santa Clara University before an injury ended his playing career. Newsom himself jokingly acknowledged that he needed to work on his balance after the mishap. Nevertheless, his trip to China will be remembered not only for the collision but also for the unexpected meeting with Xi Jinping and the discussions on pressing global issues.