Prior to President Biden dropping out of the race, an overwhelming majority of voters believed the 81-year-old was too old to be running for a second term. But it's not just that he is an octogenarian—Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina is the same age, for example, and former President Trump is just three years younger—it's that his cognitive decline was apparent to anyone who listened to him and his physical decline was noticeable to anyone who watched him. To avoid the bad optics, the White House even had Biden ditch the solo walk to Marine One, surrounding him with aides instead to downplay the “halting and stiff gait,” as Axios described it at the time. And Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report (the transcripts of which have suddenly turned up) which described Biden as an “elderly man with a poor memory” made matters worse. When pressed directly, Democrats twisted themselves into pretzels trying to make the case that Biden’s age meant wisdom and he was still as “sharp and vigorous” as ever. But after being forced off the ticket following his disastrous debate with Donald Trump last month, Democrats have suddenly weaponized the charge they so vigorously defended Biden against.
The memo has gone out: it is Donald Trump who is “now officially the oldest presidential nominee of a major political party in American history,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tweeted.
What’s impressive about Democrats is the coordination. Like, within 12 hours they had coalesced around a talking point: Trump being too old to be president, and every one of them started tweeting it, including some of their media partners https://t.co/DAektQvDNu
— Ian Miller (@ianmSC) July 23, 2024
He was far from alone. Other Democrats said much the same.
McGovern: This is an emergency meeting not to fix the border but to bash Kamala Harris. The emergency is Trump is losing and they’re in a panic. Maybe they should call on him to step aside considering how rambling, unfocused, and boring he has become. He’s the oldest nominee in… pic.twitter.com/K5gz0S5opp
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 23, 2024
VIDEO - Dem Rep. Lieu: ‘Incoherent’ Trump ‘Is the Oldest Person Running for President Ever’ @tedlieu https://t.co/SOcycVp93E
— Grabien (@GrabienMedia) July 23, 2024
Hours after Biden’s bombshell announcement, Axios ran a piece under the headline, “Biden’s exit makes Trump the oldest nominee in U.S. history.”
Then came the cable networks.
Recommended
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins: "Trump is now the oldest nominee that we’ve ever seen in US presidential history."
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) July 21, 2024
Now that the coup has successfully removed their cognitively impaired nominee, they’re going with the "Trump is too old” narrative. pic.twitter.com/d02BRY4A7s
Sellers: Kamala Harris is running against the oldest nominee for president of the United States in American history… I mean, the man is nearly 80-years-old and so the question is, can he serve another four years? I'm not sure he can pic.twitter.com/Au6RaBX9eC
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 21, 2024
What a difference two days make on X
— @SHEPMJS (@shepmjs) July 23, 2024
Then:
Age doesn't matter
All the polls are fake
Now:
Trump is the oldest candidate in history
Harris jumps into the polling lead
But to emphasize again, it's not just about age. Biden no longer has the mental acuity to be the leader of the free world. With a 59-year-old now heading up their ticket, however, that nuance is gone and they've shamelessly transitioned from arguing old age is fine to suddenly claiming it's unacceptable.
Glad to see the new talking points went out to the NPCs:
— Kristan Hawkins (@KristanHawkins) July 23, 2024
BIDEN OLD
OLD GOOD
*Biden leaves race*
TRUMP OLD
OLD BAD pic.twitter.com/fY7Vd4V6oo
Remember, last month anyone who mentioned the same about Biden was labelled ageist by Democrats and left wing media.
— Mink in a Sink (@GenoBambino1975) July 23, 2024
You all were just fine with Joe Biden running for re-election, until you all weren't.
— IT Guy (@ITGuy1959) July 23, 2024
This won't work.
you might want to sit this one out
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) July 23, 2024
You LITERALLY covered for the oldest candidate. I get being opportunist is what you Dems do but no one is going to by your aboutface https://t.co/iIWxSOY7IO
Three weeks ago he said 81 years old was juuuust fine.
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) July 23, 2024
Do they really think people don’t see through this shameless BS? https://t.co/3HkCfA2Frl
I really don’t think Democrats thought through this line of attack.
— Jack Pandol (@jackpandol) July 23, 2024
Who is sitting in the Oval Office *right now* because their Frontliners perpetrated a cover up? pic.twitter.com/dVCXmUnZbT https://t.co/XlJzf6xy8J
