Hillary Clinton believes Americans are right to be concerned about President Joe Biden’s old age.
Speaking at the Financial Times Weekend Festival on Saturday, Clinton fielded a question about Biden stumbling and almost falling down some stairs while in Japan last week for the G7 summit. Financial Times editor Edward Luce described the event as a “heart-stopping moment” because “these things could be consequential.”
Clinton, the former Democratic presidential nominee and secretary of state, agreed with the premise that Biden’s health is a legitimate concern.
“It’s a concern for anyone. We’ve had presidents who had fallen before who were a lot younger, and people didn’t go into heart palpitations,” Clinton began.
“But his age is an issue, and people have every right to consider it,” she admitted.
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Unsurprisingly, Clinton couched her comments in praise for Biden, who Democrats believe is the only person standing between Donald Trump and his return to the White House.
Clinton claimed Biden has a stellar policy record and doesn’t get the credit he deserves, and she said every American should hope Biden wins re-election.
“I obviously hope he stays very focused and able to compete in the election, because I think he can be re-elected, and that’s what we should all hope for,” Clinton said.
At 80 years old, Biden is the oldest president in U.S. history. If he wins re-election, he would be 82 years old on Inauguration Day.
His age — and physical and mental acuity — will become one of the key issues in the campaign, as many Republicans already doubt Biden’s fitness for the presidency.
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), the former White House physician, has repeatedly called on Biden to undergo cognitive testing or not seek re-election. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley even suggested that politicians age 75 or older should be required to undergo cognitive testing to seek the White House or federal office.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the physician to the president, described Biden as a “healthy, vigorous 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency” in a health summary released earlier this year.
The report, however, said nothing about Biden’s cognitive health.
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