Biden's age 'major concern' for many as he turns 80: US professor

• Published date: 20 November 2022
• Publication title: Philippines News agency

US President Joe Biden turned 80 on Sunday, meaning he would be 82 if he decides to run for a second presidential term in 2024.

Biden was already the oldest president to be sworn into office at 78 and would surpass that milestone if he won reelection.

"I think clearly Biden's age is a major concern, his mental acuity is a major concern and his overall health is a major concern," Rice University political scientist Mark Jones said.

Jones told Anadolu Agency that despite Biden's age, "he is president of the United States and is eligible to run for another term and it is difficult for any Democrat to say he should not run for reelection."

Biden has not shied away from concerns about his age, which he addressed in an interview before the Nov. 8 midterm elections.

"I think it's a legitimate thing to be concerned about anyone's age, including mine," Biden said. "That's totally legitimate. But I think the best way to make the judgment is to, you know, watch me. Am I slowing up? Am I - don't have the same pace?"

With Democrats coming off a much better-than-expected midterm showing -- retaining their majority in the Senate and losing the House of Representatives by a razor-thin margin -- Biden seems to be steering toward throwing his hat into the ring for a second term.

'Our intention is to run again,' he said during an interview last week. 'That's been our intention regardless of what the outcome of this (midterm) election was.'

'I think everybody wants me to run, but we're going to have discussions about it,' said Biden, adding that it would be a 'family decision."

Jones said Biden's decision would be contingent upon whether former President Donald Trump decided to run again.

Trump declared his candidacy on Nov. 15.

"Trump's decision for now makes it more likely Biden will run, and also, in many respects, makes the age issue less relevant," said Jones, who pointed out that Trump was the oldest US president to be sworn in at 70 before giving up that milestone when he lost to Biden in 2020.

Trump is now 76 and would be 78 during the 2024 campaign if chosen as the Republican nominee.

"Since (Biden) and Trump are so close in age, and both too old in the eyes of most Americans to be elected president in 2024 ... if both are the respective Democratic and Republican candidates, that's the choice Americans will have," said Jones. "Biden views himself as providing Democrats with the best hope of defeating Trump, and thus is more likely now to run for reelection."

With a possible...