Age Controversy Hits Former President Trump: Is He Showing Signs of Slower Cognitive Decline?

Former President Trump is 77 years old

Former U.S. President Donald Trump / AP=Yonhap News

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had a relative advantage in the ‘age controversy’ in American politics compared to his competitor, President Joe Biden, has recently been pointed out for making a series of mistakes that can be suspected due to his age.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 30th (local time) that there had been a series of inconsistent behaviors and decreased awareness of the surrounding situation at recent rallies of former President Trump.

According to the NYT, former President Trump mentioned Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to his supporters at a rally held in Sioux City, Iowa, on the 29th.

The mistake was corrected only after a person on stage with him hinted to former President Trump that he had changed Sioux City to Sioux Falls.

In addition, former President Trump recently told his supporters at a rally that he had defeated former President Obama in the election.

Former President Trump won against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election and lost to President Biden in the 2020 election.

Later, Former President Obama did not run in the elections in which former President Trump participated.

Former President Trump also repeatedly mispronounced the name of Hamas, the armed faction of Palestine.

It is not clear whether these mistakes are due to the age or cognitive decline of former President Trump.

However, candidates who have challenged former President Trump in the Republican presidential primary are paying attention to these behaviors.

Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, met with reporters in New Hampshire last week and said, “It’s not the Trump of 2016,” and “It hurts to see Trump, who has lost his old vitality.”

It was an indirect attack on former President Trump’s age.

Former President Trump is currently 77 years old. Although he is younger than 80-year-old President Biden, if he wins the election next year, he will become the second oldest U.S. president after President Biden.

Meanwhile, Steve Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump camp, claimed, “Voters know very well that Trump is the healthiest candidate,” and “The image of President Biden mumbling during a speech, confused about where to walk, and falling on the stairs of Air Force One is etched in the minds of voters.”