Age question takes center stage at Trump-Biden debate
President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, during a presidential debate hosted by CNN, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
(NewsNation) — The two oldest presidential candidates in U.S. history faced off in the first 2024 presidential debate.
Debate moderator Dana Bash asked President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to address concerns about their capabilities to be the president despite their respective elderly ages.
Both Biden, 81, and Trump, 78 years old, would be the oldest person ever elected president in history if they win in November.
When asked about his capabilities to continue being president well into his 80s, Biden highlighted his past accomplishments, saying that he spent half of his life being the youngest person in politics.
“This guy is three years younger and a lot less competent,” Biden said about Trump. “Look at the record, look at what I’ve done, look how I’ve turned around the horrible situation he left me.”
If Biden were elected in November, he’d be 86 years old at the end of his term.
What did Trump say about his age?When Bash asked Trump the same question, Trump expressed no concerns over his age and said that he “aced” two cognitive tests.
“I took two cognitive tests, I took physical exams every year,” Trump said, “I’m in very good health.”
Trump also said he would “like to see” Biden take a cognitive test, and continued to poke fun at Biden’s mental faculties, as he has previously done in a campaign ad.
“Just one, a real easy one … go through the first five questions, he couldn’t do it,” Trump said.
If Trump were elected in November, he’d be 82 years old at the end of his term.
