Trump’s Age and Health Under Scrutiny After Biden Drops Out
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Former President Donald Trump often criticized Joe Biden for being too old and unfit. Now, those same arguments might come back to trouble Trump, who is 78, after President Biden decided not to run for reelection.
With Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, expected to be the Democratic nominee, Trump will be the older candidate, putting more focus on his age and health. “The situation has changed a lot,” said Matthew Foster, a political scientist at American University.
Even after Biden dropped out, Trump kept questioning Biden’s mental sharpness, joking that Biden might “wake up and forget that he dropped out of the race.” But people often forget that Trump isn’t much younger. If he wins, Trump would be the oldest president ever sworn in.
Trump also makes mistakes, with many gaffes and rambling speeches. His long speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, just days after surviving an assassination attempt, was praised by his supporters for showing his stamina. However, some viewers thought he seemed tired and struggled through the speech.
A poll by ABC in mid-July found that 60 per cent of Americans think Trump is too old to run again. Despite this, Trump dismisses concerns about his age. In January, he said he aced a cognitive test from his doctor and would tell people if he started to decline.
Since leaving office, Trump hasn’t had to share as much about his health. Last November, he released a short letter from his doctor saying he was in good health and had lost weight, without giving details.
Meanwhile, Harris’s campaign is gearing up, and her team will likely use Trump’s age against him. Harris’s spokesperson, James Singer, told AFP, “The Republican party has nominated Donald Trump, a 78-year-old convicted criminal who has spent decades hurting working people.”
Foster said Harris brings a different kind of energy, describing her style as “younger” and “aggressive.” Harris, a former senator from California, made a mark during the debates in her 2020 presidential run. Now, she is set to lead the Democratic campaign.
