"These Days, Eighty Is the New Forty"... White House Dismisses Biden's Age Controversy

Concerns About Biden's Age Met With "Please Judge the President's Achievements"
77% of Respondents Say "President Is Too Old" in Poll

Recently, controversy has continued in the U.S. political sphere over the issue of elderly politicians. Amid this, the White House, ahead of next year's presidential election, has dismissed concerns about President Joe Biden, who is 80 years old this year.

At a regular briefing on the 15th (local time), Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about recent polls showing that a majority of Americans are worried about President Biden's age.

In response, Jean-Pierre said, "These days, 80 is the new 40," adding, "President Biden faced the same criticism in 2020 but has overcome those who said he couldn't every time."

Jean-Pierre listed the Biden administration's infrastructure investments, support for electric vehicles (EV) under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and negotiations on prescription drug prices, calling them "historic achievements." She emphasized, "President Biden has consistently accomplished more than others thought possible."

When asked further, "Why do concerns about the president's age persist despite such achievements?" Jean-Pierre replied, "I can't speak to each individual's concerns, but I want people to look at the wisdom and record the president holds."

President Joe Biden of the United States
[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

She added, "We are focused on how to continue accomplishing great things and build on the successes of the past two years."

In U.S. politics, the health of elderly politicians has recently come under scrutiny, especially with next year's presidential election approaching, fueling the debate.

Mitch McConnell, the 81-year-old Senate Minority Leader of the U.S. Republican Party, was seen several times suddenly stopping mid-speech and appearing to be in a dazed state for several seconds during official events, sparking speculation about his health.

McConnell denied these claims, stating, "I will complete my term as Minority Leader and finish my Senate term." His Senate term runs until 2026, and if he remains in office until then, he will be 84 years old.

In July, local reports also noted that President Biden recently began using a short staircase when boarding his official plane, Air Force One. Since taking office, Biden has stumbled more than three times while boarding the presidential plane, which is interpreted as a preemptive move to avoid related controversies.

Former President Donald Trump, who is leading the Republican side alongside Biden in a two-party race, is also 77 years old this year. Earlier, a poll released by Reuters and Ipsos showed that 77% of respondents said, "President Biden is too old to serve as president."

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