Some of them are already in their 80s, but still feel fit enough for the political scene: Despite their age, a number of top politicians in the USA are not thinking of retiring. Are competency tests the solution?
Recently in Kentucky: Mitch McConnell is asked at a press conference if he wants to run again in 2026. Instead of answering, the 81-year-old stands frozen, staring at nothing. His assistant repeats the question. It wasn’t until 40 agonizing seconds later that McConnell wrestled a feeble okay, struggling to answer two other questions before being led off the podium.
It is the second such incident in five weeks. Just a bit of a daze, which is normal after a severe concussion, McConnell’s team explains afterwards. The Republican fell in March, not for the first time either. The older man, known as “Turtle,” isn’t the only senior in the Senate whose age is now obvious.
Haley: “Senate is that most privileged Retirement home”
His colleague Dianne Feinstein, Democratic Senate legend and at 90 almost the oldest in the chamber, has been fighting forgetfulness and concentration problems for years. In meetings, she often seems disoriented – and lets others tell her how to vote.
“The Senate is currently the most privileged old people’s home in the country!”, For example, the Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley etched on the Fox News channel. “Mitch McConnell has done great things. And he deserves credit for that. But you also have to know when it’s time to go.”
Biden is already the oldest US President
Haley, who as a 51-year-old is campaigning on the issue of generational change, is still the exception in this clarity. But the debate about age or term limits is in full swing again. Especially with a view to the next presidential election: Haley, for example, advocates a mental ability test for candidates over the age of 75.
She is aiming it at Donald Trump, who is 77. At 79, Joe Biden is already the oldest US President of all time. “Joe Biden will never survive a second term. We can’t have an 81-year-old president,” says Haley.
Majority thinks Trump and Biden are too old
The majority of Americans seem to agree with the Republican. According to surveys, they consider Biden in particular, but also Trump, to be too old for another term in office. Age researcher Jay Olshansky from the University of Chicago disagrees: Both politicians appear to the experts as so-called “superagers” – people who may be old but are still very fit both physically and mentally.
Biden, for example, does sports and takes almost no medication. “There’s no evidence of mental decline. There’s a tendency to interpret his stutter that way. He seems more frail than Trump. But that’s also because of the weight,” Olshansky said.
He therefore considers age limits and tests to be arbitrary. It would be more helpful if politicians with cognitive problems or life-threatening illnesses played their cards open to voters. What you can’t force them to do. “If someone who wants to be president has problems with cognitive function, then we as voters see that,” explains Olshansky.
Age obviously does not decide elections
Political scientist Kyle Kondik from the University of Virginia believes that even if a majority of Americans consider these candidates to be too old, this aspect will not ultimately decide the election. “There are many things that people say they would like to have. But then they don’t choose accordingly.” Because other factors are more important.