When it comes to the U.S. presidency, how old is too old? At 80 years old, current president Joe Biden has become the oldest president to serve in office. Many think that his age affects his decision-making and speech abilities, and may raise his chances of not finishing his term. Biden isn’t getting any younger, and if he were to be reelected he would finish his second term at a whopping 86 years old.
Biden is not the only old man interested in the presidential office once again in 2024, as Donald Trump has also announced his run for presidency in the 2024 election at 76 years old. If reelected, he would end his presidency at 81 years old.
Some defend both candidates’ ages by arguing that they know how to run the office due to their past experiences, but to Generation Z and millennials, it is foolish to have two possible presidents for 2024 that exceed the ages of their own grandparents. For the many new voters that will be able to vote in the 2024 presidential election, it would be strange to vote for a presidential candidate that is not four times older than a large percentage of the population.
Many people in his own political party – the Democratic Party – agree that he is too old. According to the Brookings Institution, “67% of Americans, including 48% of Democrats, think that Biden is too old for another term.”
Upcoming voters at CHS share this opinion as well. Junior Danielle Beattie of Wall Townships believes voters should focus on new ideas and youthful politicians.
“I think people should run for office who are a little bit younger and who can resonate with more of the younger population,” Beattie said.
Given that the two candidates are much older than most of the current voting population, some do not see individuals over 80 years old as capable of running an entire country. Junior Lillian Fischer of Rumson shares her thoughts on the matter of age in office.
“Joe Biden and Donald Trump are basically the same age as my grandfather,” Fischer said. “I would not trust my grandfather to run much of anything at his age, so I definitely don’t trust someone that old in office.”
Despite concerns with age, others think that people purposefully use it to malign the candidates. According to Charles M. Blow of the New York Times, “Breathless headlines have created a sense that worrying about the president’s age is common knowledge and common sense, when in fact it is, at least in part, fueled by political manipulation and media complicity.”
Using age to claim that someone is not mentally or physically competent is a tactic for journalists and media outlets to berate the candidates they don’t support. However, that does not mean that the possibility of declining health could become a danger. While no health issues have affected President Biden’s ability to serve in office, at his age that could change at any moment.
For all the 17 and 18-year-olds voting in the coming election, it is important to consider voting for someone who not only understands younger generations, but who can also make it the full term without the possibility of a medical crisis.
With an average life expectancy of 77 in the United states, presidential candidate options could prove risky if future leaders struggle to maintain their physical health for four years in office.
