Former President Trump set to become oldest nominee in U.S. history as Biden exits 2024 race
President Biden’s decision to step aside from the 2024 race has paved the way for former President Trump to become the oldest nominee in U.S. history, sparking a new line of attack from Democrats.
With Biden, who would be 82 by inauguration day, citing the best interest of the party and the country as his reason for dropping out, concerns over his age and mental acuity had been mounting following a disastrous debate performance earlier in the month.
Now, at 78 years old, Trump is set to face off against Vice President Kamala Harris, with Democrats already seizing on his age as a potential liability.
“This will probably boil down to Donald Trump, who is the oldest nominee in history, against Kamala Harris,” Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., said in reaction to Biden’s announcement, according to The Associated Press.
Democratic Ohio State Rep. Casey Weinstein echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Donald Trump is too old to be President.”
Harris, who Biden endorsed to lead the ticket after dropping out, is reportedly planning to make Trump’s age and fitness a central issue if she becomes the nominee, with her deputy chief of staff hinting at a strategy to contrast her prosecutorial background with Trump’s past legal troubles.
As the 2024 campaign trail heats up, the age question is sure to remain a key point of contention between the two candidates.
