A general election rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is looking likely as Trump continues to control the Republican primary. Biden, 81, and Trump, 77, have both received criticism for their age. After a special counsel report on Biden’s classified documents raised questions on Biden’s competence after the report called Biden “a well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” 

A special counsel was tasked with investigating classified documents Joe Biden had been storing in his personal home in Delaware. Robert Hur, a Trump appointed attorney, leads the investigation and is set to testify in front of Congress on March 12 about his findings. The report indicated that Biden should not be prosecuted for his possession of classified documents. Despite this news, however, the national takeaway from the investigation focused on the way Biden was portrayed during the investigation. 

Republicans have used this opportunity to double down on Biden’s age and cognitive abilities ahead of the election. Contrastingly, Democrats have been on the attack of Hur, saying that the report is politicized and that the commentary on Biden’s competency wasn’t warranted in the report. Hur highlighted several instances throughout his interview with the president where he was unable to recall certain information. According to the report, President Biden could not recall the exact years he was Vice President and was unable to remember the year his son Beau died of cancer. Biden spoke the following day and emphasized that he is fit for the presidency. 

Americans across the country have shown a reluctance to elect both Biden and Trump, many citing age as one of the reasons. Several students have also expressed concerns about both candidates.  Katie Langille, a Sophomore NHIOP Ambassador, said, “Both Biden and Trump make me nervous about the precedent we’re setting for future elections. The U.S. Presidency is a very high-stress job, and that stress wears on a person, body and mind alike. I don’t think deeming someone unfit to run for office is within our American ideals.” 

Speculation has grown that Democrats may attempt to prop up another candidate before the Democratic National Convention. President Biden’s approval rating is at a historic low and the negative coverage he has received from the special report hinders his ability to be reelected. He currently trails Trump in several national polls, and more importantly, in swing-states that will likely decide the election. 

Despite the calls for Biden not to seek reelection, both he and his administration remain adamant that he will run and win the general election, as many within the party still believe he is the candidate with the strongest chance of defeating Trump. 

Owen Bland ’27, who is a NHIOP ambassador, questioned the constitutionality of imposing an age restriction upon those running for office. “The Constitution guarantees the right to seek the presidency to every natural-born citizen over the age of thirty-five, therefore, any attempt to restrict access to the ballot, is inherently constitutional,” he said.

Joe Biden was elected President in January 2021, at seventy-eight, making him the oldest elected President. President Biden has been criticized by opponents and supporters alike for his orating and memory abilities. “It’s a legitimate question to ask about my age. Hopefully, I can demonstrate not only with age has come wisdom and experience,” said Biden on The View in 2019. 

Until Biden, Ronald Reagan, the 40th President, was the oldest elected president. Reagan was 69 years old when he was elected in 1980. Trump was the third oldest elected President at 70 in 2016. Trump, in an interview with Dr. Marc Seigel on Fox News, described the mental stamina needed to be president and a test he took to identify “cognitive decline.” Trump used this test as an attack on Biden during their campaigns in 2020. 

Even Reagan was questioned to be suffering from onset dementia symptoms during his time in office after the world found out about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. An analysis by the NewYork Times shows that before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1994, he suffered from alterations in his speech but not his judgment. 

Why compare Biden, and Trump to Reagan? Candidates, and politicians, with their age, have become more and more of a concern to the American people. The criticisms of Biden stem from the idea of “cognitive decline.” The White House declined the accusations of Trump and the debate about the age and cognitive ability of the Presidential candidates have sparked throughout the term of Biden’s term.

Another 2024 presidential hopeful, former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, has been an adamant advocate for competency tests for older politicians. 

Questions over Biden’s mental competency have been especially prevalent following the special counsel report. “Why are lawyers making comments about Biden’s mental competence and not psychiatrists,” said Bland. 

It would be necessary for qualified specialists to administer tests and confirm Biden’s mental fitness for office and, while the report calls his competency into question, it does not appear that such measures will be implemented ahead of the presidential election this fall.