President Joe Biden is addressing concerns about his age directly in a new campaign ad and social media post as his reelection campaign gains momentum.
Biden and former President Donald Trump are widely expected to secure the 2024 nominations for their respective parties, making a 2020 rematch in November’s general election highly likely. Recent polls have consistently shown that the two candidates are evenly matched in terms of voter support.
At 78 years old during his inauguration in January 2021, Biden became the oldest person in U.S. history to assume the presidency. Throughout his term, voters have expressed concerns about his advanced age, often informing pollsters that they feel he is too old to hold the presidency and should not seek a second term. However, it’s important to note that there is minimal historical precedent for such a decision.
Opponents of the president from the Republican party have sought to undermine Biden’s presidency by emphasizing his age. They point to instances in his speeches where he seems to stumble over words or use incorrect terms. Some even go as far as suggesting that he might be secretly suffering from senility or dementia. However, Biden’s supporters dismiss these claims and instead highlight his numerous accomplishments. They also point out that Trump, who is only four years younger than Biden, has had his own age-related struggles. Critics point to various recent instances of slurred speech, mispronunciation, and confusion with names in Trump’s public addresses and rallies as evidence that his cognitive health may be worse than that of his Democratic rival.
In a recent post on the official presidential account on X, formerly known as Twitter, and through a new campaign ad, Biden has directly addressed concerns about his age as his reelection gains momentum heading into the spring.
“The problem our nation is currently grappling with is not our age, but rather the staleness of our ideas,” stated the post on X, reflecting a sentiment expressed during the recent State of the Union (SOTU) address. “Hate, anger, revenge, and retribution are all ancient concepts. We cannot effectively lead America by relying on outdated ideas that only hold us back.”
In the recently released ad on Saturday, Biden starts by acknowledging his age, saying, “I’m not a young guy. That’s no secret. But, here’s the deal. I know how to deliver results for the American people.” The president continues by highlighting the significant achievements of his first term, which include successfully passing a crucial infrastructure bill, reducing prescription drug expenses, implementing price caps on insulin for seniors, and leading the nation’s recovery from the pandemic.
The video concludes with a lighthearted moment, as Biden playfully questions the necessity of an advertisement addressing concerns about his age. This humorous segment is presented as a response to a request for one more take.
“I gotta tell you, I’m young, full of energy, and quite the looker!” exclaims Biden in the advertisement. “What on earth am I doing here?”
The Biden campaign was contacted by Newsweek through email on Sunday for comment. Any responses received will be included in a later update to this story.
NEW: The Biden campaign just a released a new ad that opens with Joe Biden saying, “I'm not a young guy. That's no secret. But, here's the deal. I understand how to get things done for the American people.” So personable, funny, & good. Watch & share👇pic.twitter.com/6FnFTD4km2
— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) March 9, 2024