US President Joe Biden (81), and his Republican rival Donald Trump (78), the oldest presidential candidates in America’s political history, addressed the burning question concerning their age in Thursday’s faceoff ahead of the general election.
When asked: How could they assuage voters’ concerns about their ability to handle the presidency as they continue to age?
Neither of them could provide a candid answer to pacify the concerns about how they would carry out work for the next four years on being re-elected to the White House.
Biden, who has been in the dock over his mental and physical acuity, addressed the concern before shifting topics.
“I spent half my career being criticised being the youngest person in politics,” he said, a common reframe making reference to his youth — 30 years old — when he first became a senator. “And now I’m the oldest. This guy is three years younger, and a lot less competent,” Biden was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
Trump, who was in attacking mode all through the debate, claimed that he aced the cognitive test and questioned if Biden could do the same.
“We knock on wood wherever we may have wood that I’m in very good health,” Trump said.
Boasting his golf scores, Trump took a dig at Biden and said, “He can’t hit a ball 50 yards.”
Biden replied: “I’d be happy to have a driving contest with him,” saying that his golf handicap when he was vice president was six strokes over par. “I’m happy to play golf with you, if you carry your own bag. Think you can do it?”
“That’s the biggest lie, that he’s a six handicap, of all,” Trump said, leading Biden to explain that he was an eight handicap.
“Let’s not act like children,” Trump added.
When asked: How could they assuage voters’ concerns about their ability to handle the presidency as they continue to age?
Neither of them could provide a candid answer to pacify the concerns about how they would carry out work for the next four years on being re-elected to the White House.
Biden, who has been in the dock over his mental and physical acuity, addressed the concern before shifting topics.
“I spent half my career being criticised being the youngest person in politics,” he said, a common reframe making reference to his youth — 30 years old — when he first became a senator. “And now I’m the oldest. This guy is three years younger, and a lot less competent,” Biden was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
Trump, who was in attacking mode all through the debate, claimed that he aced the cognitive test and questioned if Biden could do the same.
“We knock on wood wherever we may have wood that I’m in very good health,” Trump said.
Boasting his golf scores, Trump took a dig at Biden and said, “He can’t hit a ball 50 yards.”
Biden replied: “I’d be happy to have a driving contest with him,” saying that his golf handicap when he was vice president was six strokes over par. “I’m happy to play golf with you, if you carry your own bag. Think you can do it?”
“That’s the biggest lie, that he’s a six handicap, of all,” Trump said, leading Biden to explain that he was an eight handicap.
“Let’s not act like children,” Trump added.
