Former US President Donald Trump has expressed that he doesn’t consider Joe Biden, America’s oldest president, to be too old for a second term. However, he swiftly added that he believes Biden’s incompetence is a more significant concern. Trump’s remarks, made during an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” are set to air on Sunday, September 17. These comments come at a time when the US is grappling with a significant debate over the age of its political leaders, a key factor leading up to the 2024 elections, where Biden will be nearly 82, and Trump himself, 78 years old.
Polls indicate that Americans have more concerns about Biden’s age, with one survey revealing that three out of four people doubt his ability to serve a second term. Trump, who concluded his presidency as the second-oldest president in history (Ronald Reagan was 77 at the end of his term), would also be 82 at the end of a potential second term, a point he acknowledged in the interview.
He mentioned, “Some of the greatest world leaders have been in their 80s,” and asserted, “I’m not anywhere near 80, by the way.” Trump concluded by emphasizing that while he doesn’t think Biden is too old, he believes his incompetence is a more pressing issue.
Biden, who overcame a stammering problem in his youth, has faced mockery for his gaffes. Notably, both Biden and Trump do not consume alcohol. In the NBC interview, Trump expressed his lack of concern about his own age, citing his parents’ long lives.