Once you turn the ripe old age of 80, there becomes an invisible limit on what is possible, depending of course on your health and fitness. You might not be able to do physical labour anymore with a bad back and hardly-moving hips. You might not be able to drive as well if your eyesight has let you down. Something you can do, however, is run for President in the United States of America.
There is no maximum age limit in the Constitution for candidates, nor is there a cut off point for how old a president can be whilst in office. Joe Biden is currently the oldest President by age at Inauguration, being 78 years old back in 2020. Now, at a record-breaking high of 81, Biden is running for a second-term as president, one that – if successful – would end with him being 86 years old. The question here, then, is how old is too old? Is Joe Biden still well and able enough to act as a representative for one of the most influential countries in the world?
According to a poll conducted by Ipsos’ Knowledge Panel, 86% of Americans think Joe Biden is too old to serve again as president – and they may be right in their beliefs. The media has captured numerous moments of instability and fragility on Biden’s part, showcasing instances of poor memory and lack of clear thought. Everybody makes mistakes, of course, but the reality is that these examples have been broadcasted across social media, to the point of being viral. One video shows the infamous clip of Biden falling down the stairs when attempting to board a plane. Frankly, this would be embarrassing for anyone, but you might expect the President of the United States to possess a greater sense of stability. These moments are increasing in frequency, leading many to believe that he is simply no longer capable.
That being said, does physical fitness and coordination truly determine someone’s ability to be a good leader? Biden’s career has been long, being one of the youngest politicians to be elected to Congress before he was 30 years old, meaning he likely has far more experience than other potential candidates. His current record as president boasts a large number of successes, including a historic student debt relief programme where 20 million borrowers can have their student loans fully cancelled, and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, forcing 18-21 year olds to undergo background checks before purchasing firearms. Whilst it is undeniable that this is not just the work of one man, it cannot be argued that Biden is an incapable leader, judging from the long lists of feats he boasts from one term. Clarity of mind aside, many people are unaware that his verbal abilities come from years of battling a stutter; perhaps it is the ignorance of the human factor that prevents people from seeing the positive abilities of global leaders.
To summarise, there are clearly two sides to this debate. The current conversation around Biden’s age has led to a movement for reform that will set an age limit for presidential candidates, although whether this will come into place is unclear. Donald Trump is only four years younger than Biden, so the alternative choice for American voters does not seem to hold much significance on the age front. Is Biden too old to run again? In numerical terms, the answer is probably yes. Although, looking at the successes he has had (and the alternative option), there is nothing to say that he wouldn’t perform successfully again during a second term – who knows what he may be capable of in four years time?
