Concerns about former President Donald Trump’s age and cognitive abilities are mounting as he campaigns for the presidency at 78 years old, with the 2024 election just a month away.
A recent New York Times (NYT) survey, conducted from September 29 to October 1 with 1,638 voters, revealed that 40% of respondents believe Trump’s health and age could significantly limit his capacity to serve another term in office.
In a June survey conducted before 82-year-old President Joe Biden stepped down from the Democratic nomination due to concerns about his age and cognitive abilities, 27% of respondents expressed similar concerns regarding Biden’s ability to serve effectively.
While around 30% of voters had previously been concerned about Trump’s age, these concerns have intensified since Vice President Kamala Harris, 59 and two decades younger than Trump, entered the race as the Democratic candidate.
Trump’s recent verbal missteps have added fuel to these concerns. During a September Fox News interview, he mistakenly claimed that the audience at his debate with Harris “went crazy” despite no audience being present.
Last week, Trump raised issues regarding his Secret Service protection, claiming North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is “trying to kill me,” The remark was criticized for mistakenly referring to “North Korea” instead of “Iran.”
He also mistakenly referred to the movie The Silence of the Lambs as “The Silence of the Lips” and brought up Johnny Carson, who passed away in 2005. He also called Tesla CEO Elon Musk “Leon” instead of Elon.
His increasingly lengthy speeches and the rise in negative word usage are also fueling concerns.
The NYT reported that its computer analysis revealed that Trump’s average speech length increased from 45 minutes in 2016 to 82 minutes now.
A computer analysis showed a 13% increase in the use of absolute terms like “always” and “never” since 2016, alongside a 32% rise in negative word usage, suggesting potential cognitive shifts.
The NYT further noted that Trump’s speeches have become more disorganized and agitated, reigniting concerns over his age and mental sharpness as he pursues the presidency once again.
In response to these criticisms, Steven Chung, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, defended the former president, claiming Trump has more energy and stamina than anyone else in politics. Chung also called Trump “one of the smartest leaders in U.S. history,” brushing off concerns about his age and mental acuity.
