In a recent interview, President Joe Biden took a fresh approach in his critique of his potential future adversary, Donald Trump, by drawing attention to Trump’s age. This move is seen as a counter to those who have highlighted Biden’s own age as a potential drawback in the forthcoming election.
The 81-year-old President, during his conversation with Seth Meyers, humorously pointed out that Trump, aged 77, had recently mistaken his wife’s name, calling Melania “Mercedes” at a CPAC event. Biden’s comment was not just about age, but also about mental acuity, a topic that has been a point of contention in recent political discourse.
Biden, during his appearance on NBC’s “Late Night,” urged voters to consider not just the age of a candidate but the age of their ideas. He characterized Trump as someone who wants to regress on issues that have been established American positions for decades.
The interview took place shortly after the announcement of Biden’s upcoming visit to the Texas-Mexico border, coinciding with Trump’s planned visit to Eagle Pass, Texas, a recent hotspot for state and federal government clashes over border crossings.
Biden’s remarks on Trump’s age could signal a significant shift in his messaging strategy, especially in the wake of Trump’s victory in the South Carolina Republican primaries, a step closer to securing his party’s presidential nomination.
Trump, in the past, has refrained from attacking Biden on the basis of age, instead focusing on painting him as “incompetent” and “cognitively impaired.” Biden’s trip to Texas will include meetings with US Border Patrol agents, law enforcement, local elected officials, and discussions on the urgent need for a Senate bipartisan border security agreement.
Biden also took the opportunity to criticize Trump’s recent statement about allowing Russia to have their way with NATO member countries who don’t fulfill funding obligations. He expressed his disbelief and concern over such a statement, calling it “bizarre” and against American interests.
According to Biden, foreign leaders are apprehensive about the implications of a second Trump term on the relationship between the United States and other countries. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Democracy is at stake.”