Trump’s 78th Birthday Shines Light on Age as Campaign Issue for 2024 Race

Turning 78 on Friday, Donald Trump marks a significant milestone, highlighting the fact that both major-party candidates in this year’s U.S. presidential race are the oldest ever to run for the office.

The age and mental acuity of Republican candidate Trump and his Democratic opponent, President Joe Biden, have been central to the campaign, overshadowing substantive policy discussions leading up to the Nov. 5 election.

Polls indicate that Americans are more concerned about Biden’s advanced age at 81. However, at 78, Trump is only three and a half years younger and would become the oldest person ever inaugurated if he secures a second term.

Trump is set to speak at a birthday event in West Palm Beach, Florida, organized by devoted supporters on Friday.

While Trump has not explicitly focused on Biden’s age during the campaign, he has seized on his opponent’s verbal miscues and slower pace to depict him as unfit for the presidency.

Biden has responded to age-related questions by pointing to his accomplishments in office as evidence of his mental acuity and strength, while portraying Trump as a threat to democracy.

Despite this, some Democrats have expressed concerns about Biden’s ability to serve another term, which would see him reach 86 years old.

In a February Reuters/Ipsos poll, 78% of respondents believed Biden was too old for government work, including 71% of Democrats. Meanwhile, 53% deemed Trump too old for the same role, despite his presidency from 2017-2021.

Trump’s campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt emphasized the importance of mental competence over age, highlighting what she described as Trump’s sharpness and elite stamina compared to Biden.

Presidential historian Timothy Naftali noted that while Trump appears physically energetic, it does not necessarily reflect his mental sharpness in comparison to Biden.

Allan Lichtman, a presidential prognosticator and history professor, pointed out gaffes by Trump that could raise doubts about his mental fitness.

As the two candidates remain closely tied in national polls, with Trump leading in key battleground states, the impact of age on the election outcome remains uncertain. Voters will also weigh other issues such as the economy, immigration, abortion rights, and Trump’s legal issues.

The upcoming televised debate on June 27 will be a crucial test for both candidates, with voters looking for any verbal missteps that could indicate their readiness to lead the country.