Donald Trump, currently 78 and running for another term as president, made another unusual comment during an interview in Chicago on Tuesday. When discussing his Supreme Court appointments with Bloomberg, Trump claimed that “only stupid people put old” individuals in high federal roles, seemingly unaware of the irony of his own advanced age.
“It’s amazing, because I got three in four years,” Trump boasted about his successful appointments of Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, who were 49, 53, and 48 years old, respectively, when appointed. “Most people get none. You tend to put them in young,” he continued. Then, dismissively, he added, “Only stupid people put old. You don’t put old in, because they’re there for two years or three years, right?”
Trump, however, is set to be 82 years old by the end of his term if re-elected in November 2024, making him the oldest presidential nominee in U.S. history. And while logic is hardly ever the former president’s virtue, should a person really be holding the nuclear codes for the country at his age?
Avoiding His Own Age Question
When pressed about his own age, Trump avoided directly addressing the question, instead steering the conversation back to his Supreme Court achievements. “So, I got three,” he responded, quickly brushing off any concerns about his fitness for office. “A lot of presidents get none, I got three. And, uh, I think they’ve been three great choices too, by the way.”
Trump’s comments come at a time when age and cognitive ability have become central concerns in the presidential race. He has faced increasing scrutiny from Democrats questioning his mental fitness, a topic highlighted further after his bizarre behavior at a town hall event the day before. Instead of addressing policy questions, Trump spent over 30 minutes swaying and dancing to music, avoiding the question-and-answer format entirely.
Age and Mental Fitness Under Scrutiny
Trump’s campaign has repeatedly come under fire as his behavior raises more questions about his mental acuity. Clinical experts, such as Dr. Ben Michaelis, have pointed out concerns over Trump’s cognitive abilities, comparing them to issues raised previously about Joe Biden. Michaelis, who has conducted cognitive assessments for the New York Supreme Court, commented on Trump’s erratic behavior, noting that “he’s really not in a strong cognitive place.”
The idea that Trump, already the oldest presidential nominee, might struggle to maintain the cognitive focus required for a four-year term is becoming harder to ignore. Experts have warned of “sundowning,” a term used for dementia patients who experience difficulty concentrating as the day progresses, suggesting that his behavior might be influenced by cognitive decline.
While Trump’s dismissive stance on the age of federal appointments and his avoidance of addressing his own age are inconsistent for people who have any sort of comprehension, they are consistent with his particular brand of factual inconsistency, especially given his frequent references to the Supreme Court as one of his key accomplishments. His three appointees—now instrumental in shaping the conservative direction of the court—were selected to serve lifetime terms. The irony of criticizing older judges while campaigning for the highest office at 78 is not lost on critics.
As the campaign continues, Trump’s own age and mental fitness will likely remain a central point of debate, particularly after his odd performance at the town hall, where more time was spent listening to his playlist than answering voters’ questions. With less than a month left in the election cycle, Trump’s fitness for office is under more scrutiny than ever.