Why on earth would Trump be defending Biden?
Joe Biden, the United States’ most senior president to date, found an unexpected ally in his age-related debate – none other than Donald Trump himself. The former President, in an interview set to air on NBC’s “Meet the Press” this Sunday, expressed that Biden, while not too old for a second term, is, in his opinion, incompetent.
According to Newsmax, these remarks from the former president come at a time when the United States is grappling with a significant discussion regarding the advancing age of its political leaders, a topic that looms large as the 2024 elections approach. At that time, Biden will be nearly 82 years old, while Trump himself will be 78.
Trump proposed supporting mental competency tests for presidential candidates but rejected the idea of imposing age limits. In an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker, he endorsed the concept of such tests, pointing to his own experience in acing a cognitive test at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in 2020, confidently asserting, “I get everything right.”
Although the age difference between the two men is minimal, polls indicate that Americans harbor greater concerns about Biden’s age, with three out of four people expressing doubts about his ability to serve a second term.
It’s worth noting that Trump concluded his own presidential term as the second-oldest president in U.S. history, behind only Ronald Reagan, who was 77 at the end of his tenure. This positioning presents a challenge for Trump as he repeatedly characterizes Biden as too “sleepy” for the job, especially given that he himself would be 82 if re-elected for a second term.
Nonetheless, Trump remains steadfast in his stance. He emphasized, “Some of the greatest world leaders have been in their 80s,” before quipping, “I’m not anywhere very near 80, by the way.” He concluded his thoughts by asserting that Biden isn’t too old but reiterated his belief in Biden’s incompetence, which he considers a more significant concern.
Joe Biden, despite being the subject of ridicule for verbal stumbles, maintains a physically active lifestyle, refrains from drinking, and frequently rides his bicycle at his Delaware residence. Democrats argue that his competence is not in question, citing his successful oversight of major legislation and his active role on the global stage.
Trump, on the other hand, has generally received positive health assessments during annual physicals, though he has been classified as overweight and primarily engages in golf for exercise. Similar to Biden, he abstains from alcohol consumption.
In the past, Trump faced criticism for his verbal gaffes and physical mishaps. Nevertheless, in his NBC interview, he displayed confidence in his own abilities, attributing his longevity to favorable genetics. He referenced a mental acuity test from the 2020 campaign in which he famously recited the words, “Person, woman, man, camera, TV,” with pride, despite it being widely ridiculed by opponents and circulating widely on social media. Trump maintained that he “aced it” and “got everything right.”