Trump Says Biden Wasn't 'Too Old' To Be President

Donald Trump addressed Joe Biden's age, but not as a criticism of his former rival, instead saying the 81-year-old president is "not old."

During his 90-minute speech at a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday Trump referenced a February report looking into Biden's handling of classified information in which special counsel Robert Hur wrote that the president presented as a "sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."

"The special counsel, which is basically a special prosecutor, judged him to be essentially mentally incompetent with poor memory but a nice old guy," Trump stated. "He's not old. You know, 81 is not old. I have friends that are 95 that are...Bernie Marcus, founder of Home Depot, 95 years old, still sharp. I spoke to him the other day. I said, 'I think you're smarter now than you were 30 years ago.' I said what's going on?"

Trump then pivoted, asserting that Biden is "different" and labeling him a "bad 81-year-old" who is "destroying our country."

President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participate in the CNN Presidential Debate on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Trump has recently said that Biden was 'not too old' to be president. President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participate in the CNN Presidential Debate on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Trump has recently said that Biden was 'not too old' to be president. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Attacks against Biden throughout his presidential candidacy focused heavily on his age and perceived cognitive state. Trump, who is three years younger than the president at 78, has in the past suggested he believes age isn't the key indicator of abilities for a potential president, saying as recently as May that Biden was "not even close" to being too old.

Amid mounting pressure following his highly criticized debate performance, Biden dropped out of the presidential race on July 21, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, who has become the de facto Democratic nominee.

Criticism of Harris dominated much of Trump's rally, as he claimed she is "even worse" than Biden.

"She's actually worse than he is because she is real radical left, he is a faulty radical left. He didn't believe those things. He didn't believe in open borders and she does." It comes a day after Harris released a campaign video focused on immigration.

According to recent polls, since Biden stepped down from the presidential race, concerns about Trump's own mental acuity have surfaced among voters.

Harris, who is 59, was not immune to Trump's jibes about age either.

"I mean she is 60 years old. I didn't realize she was 60. I thought she was a little younger. But she is 60. She is talking a big game but her game is pretty bad," Trump said during a recent interview with Laura Ingraham.

Newsweek previously reported that the Wednesday rally in Pennsylvania ended with the once-enthusiastic crowd thinning out as Trump frequently appeared to deviate from his script, talking about Hannibal Lecter and slamming the Biden-Harris administration.

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