President Biden on Tuesday made his first public appearance since dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, arriving at Dover Air Force Base ahead of a planned return to the White House. Biden, 81, saluted and smiled as he got out of his motorcade and walked slowly toward Air Force One while reporters shouted questions at him asking how he felt. “Well,’’ the president responded twice. He then lumbered toward the jet and held onto its railing as he slowly climbed up the steps, holding a blue COVID mask in his left hand.