[News Figures] "Yield to the Younger Generation" Romney Simultaneously Targets Biden and Trump

Declares Withdrawal from Senate Race on 13th Due to Age
Republican Candidate Who Contested 2012 Presidential Election Against Obama
Voted Twice to Impeach Trump Within the Republican Party

Mitt Romney, a prominent politician who ran as the Republican presidential candidate against former President Barack Obama in 2012 and currently a U.S. Senator from Utah (Republican), announced on the 13th (local time) that he will not seek re-election due to old age. Ahead of next year's presidential election, Senator Romney strongly criticized and "targeted" President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, both of whom face concerns over health deterioration due to their advanced age.

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According to The Washington Post (WP) and others, Senator Romney declared in a statement that he will not run for the next Senate election. He is 76 years old this year, and his current term ends in January 2025. He plans to maintain his Senate seat only until the end of this term and then retire from politics.

Senator Romney explained, "By the time my re-election term ends, I will be in my mid-80s," and judged that if he were re-elected, his productivity and satisfaction during that period would decline compared to the current term. He added, "Now is the time for a new generation of leaders, and they are the ones who must create and decide the world they will live in," emphasizing, "Next-generation leaders must lead America to the next stage of global leadership."

Romney's decision not to run due to age is expected to cause ripples in U.S. politics. Both President Biden and former President Trump, who are likely to run in next year's presidential election, are 80 and 77 years old this year, respectively. Health issues related to old age have become one of the major topics in the election. Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and a Republican primary candidate, even advocated for mental fitness evaluations for politicians over 75 years old.

Moreover, Mitch McConnell, the 81-year-old Republican Senate Majority Leader, recently drew attention to age-related issues after publicly freezing and temporarily losing the ability to speak during a public appearance.

Senator Romney criticized not only the age issue but also both President Biden and former President Trump. In a phone interview with WP conducted before releasing his statement, he said, "The next president is likely to be either Biden or Trump," but criticized both sides, stating, "President Biden lacks the ability to lead on important issues, and Trump lacks the will."

Expressing concern about American democracy, he said, "Protecting constitutional values is the most important task," and pointed out, "Some may prefer a 'MAGA (Make America Great Again)' world like Trump's dictatorship, but they forget that the majority of Americans vote for democracy, not Trump."

Romney strongly criticized both for failing to provide solutions to current issues such as national debt, global warming, and authoritarian threats from Russia and China. He said, "Trump claims global warming is a hoax, and Biden only offers feel-good solutions that do not solve climate change," and added, "Regarding China, Biden excessively cuts military investment, and Trump reduces investment in alliances."

Romney stated, "Just because I am not running for re-election does not mean I am retiring from the fight," indicating his intention to continue voicing strong opinions until the end of his term.

Born in 1947, Romney is considered the most successful politician among his generation of Mormons. A former CEO of Bain & Company, he first attempted to enter politics as the Republican candidate for the Massachusetts Senate election in 1994 but lost. He then began his political career by winning the Massachusetts governorship in 2002. He competed against former President Obama as the Republican presidential candidate in 2012.

His father, George Romney, served as Governor of Michigan, ran unsuccessfully in the 1968 Republican presidential primary, and served as Secretary of Housing under the Richard Nixon administration.

Romney is known within the Republican Party for his clear anti-Trump stance. He was the only senator to vote in favor of both impeachment proceedings against former President Trump during his tenure.

The New York Times reported, "Since Romney's district in Utah is a Republican stronghold, his decision is unlikely to affect the balance of power in Congress," and added, "Romney knew that if he declared his intention to run for re-election, he would have to face a tough primary."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.