Joe Biden, the oldest-ever president in American history at 80 years old, responded to questions about his age during a fundraiser held at a Broadway theater in New York.
While he typically avoids discussing his age, he acknowledged the public’s focus on the matter. Biden emphasized that his experience is an asset in dealing with crises such as the situation in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A lot of people seem focused on my age,” Biden said, recognizing the concerns about his age. “I get it, believe me, I know it more than anyone.” He went on to explain his motivation for running for re-election, stating that the future of American democracy is at risk. He emphasized that the 2024 election would once again put democracy on the ballot, and he expressed concerns about Donald Trump and his supporters’ intentions, accusing them of wanting to undermine American democracy.
Biden made it clear that he would not bow down to dictators and criticized Trump for his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He highlighted that Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan had, in his view, compromised American principles in dealing with authoritarian leaders.
Public opinion polls have shown that many American voters have concerns about Biden’s age, especially with a likely rematch against Trump in the upcoming election.
David Ignatius, a prominent columnist at the Washington Post, recently urged Biden not to run for re-election, expressing concerns that Biden’s candidacy could undermine his previous achievement of defeating Trump.
Biden, who is currently attending the UN General Assembly in New York, would be 86 years old at the end of a potential second term, making his age a significant issue for his Republican opponents.
Meanwhile, Trump, who is 77, would also break records as the oldest president ever elected if he were to win the next election. In a recent interview, Trump stated that Biden was “not too old” but criticized him as “incompetent.”
