As questions swirl about his fitness to run a reelection campaign, President Joe Biden conceded it is “legitimate” for people to be worried about age.
Despite a wave of viral clips showing gaffes becoming a regular occurrence during his tenure and physical slips, such as when he fell off a bike, Biden said in a new interview that he feels healthy and intends to seek a second term in the White House but cannot yet commit to it.
Jonathan Capehart, host of MSNBC’s The Sunday Show, brought up his Aunt Gloria during an interview with the president, stating that she is unsure about him running for president again given his age and even had them speak on the phone.
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“Well, I think Aunt Gloria should take a look. I think it’s a legitimate thing to be concerned about anyone’s age, including mine,” Biden said when asked about her concerns. “That’s totally legitimate. But I think the best way to make the judgment is to, you know, watch me. Am I slowing up? Am I — don’t have the same pace?”
Biden is the oldest president in U.S. history at 79. Should he win the presidency again in 2024, he would be 86 at the end of his second term.
The president’s age has been a recent focus, particularly after a mishap last month when he called out for the late Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) during an event.
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Biden said in the interview that if people are concerned about him running again, they should place their support elsewhere. “And if [Aunt Gloria] concludes I am missing a beat, then she should, you know, support some other Democrat if they decide to run,” he said. “But Jonathan, right now, knock on wood, I don’t want to jinx myself. I am in good health. Everything physically about me is still functioning well, and mentally, too … But I understand people want to ask that question.”
BIDEN: “Am I slowing up? Am I don’t have the same pace? You know, & that old joke—You know, everybody talks about the—you know, the new 70’s 50—you know, all that stuff. You know, I—you know, could be […] I could get a disease tomorrow, I could, you know, drop dead tomorrow.” pic.twitter.com/XgUYTxd3eE
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) October 23, 2022
He also acknowledged how quickly an older individual like himself could suddenly get seriously ill. “I’m a great respecter of fate. I could get a disease tomorrow. I could, you know, drop dead tomorrow,” Biden said, adding that people should weigh his energy level and passion for his work in determining whether he remains fit for the job.
