Tipsheet
Premium

You Knew Democrats Were Going to Roll Out This Narrative Once Biden Exited Race

Leah Barkoukis
Leah Barkoukis  |  July 24, 2024 8:00 AM

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.

He was far from alone. Other Democrats said much the same. 

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

Watch Scott Jennings Slap Down This Shoddy Talking Point About the Spending Bill Matt Vespa
'I Have a Confession': CNN Host Makes Long-Overdue Apology Sarah Arnold


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.