A recent poll conducted by NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ on September 19 and 20 has revealed that more Americans are worried about President Joe Biden’s cognitive health compared to former President Donald Trump’s. These findings shed light on a growing concern for the White House.
According to The Hill’s report on September 28, 52.21 percent of voters expressed being “very concerned” about Biden’s cognitive health affecting his ability to serve another term. In contrast, only 38.22 percent shared the same level of concern for Trump.
The poll data also showed that a significantly higher percentage of voters, 22.91 percent, were “not at all concerned” about Trump’s cognitive health, whereas only 13.19 percent felt the same way about Biden.
For those who were “somewhat concerned,” 22.1 percent expressed such sentiments for Biden’s cognitive health, slightly more than the 20.76 percent who had similar concerns for Trump.
Additionally, 12.51 percent and 18.12 percent of respondents said they were “not too concerned” with Biden’s and Trump’s cognitive health, respectively.
It’s worth noting that President Biden, at 80 years old, currently holds the record as the oldest sitting president in American history. If re-elected in 2024, he would be 82 at his second inauguration and 86 at the end of his second term, surpassing former President Ronald Reagan as the oldest president at the end of a term.
These poll results align with ongoing concerns regarding the president’s age and his ability to fulfill the duties of his office. This concern is not limited to the opposition but has also become increasingly evident within President Biden’s own party.
A CNN poll found that 56 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of Americans are seriously concerned about Biden’s current physical and mental competence. Additionally, 60 percent of Democrats expressed concerns about the president’s ability to secure victory in the 2024 election if he secures the Democratic nomination.
Similarly, a Wall Street Journal poll discovered that 73 percent of Americans and about two-thirds of Democrats believe that the phrase “too old to run for president” somewhat applies to President Biden.
President Biden has acknowledged the public’s right to discuss his age but has emphasized that he should be judged on his ability to perform the job. Vice President Kamala Harris, his running mate for the 2024 election, has downplayed concerns over his age, asserting her readiness to assume the presidency if required.
Former President Trump, at 77 years old, has countered the notion that Biden’s age disqualifies him from the presidency, instead labeling him as “grossly incompetent.”
Both Trump and Biden are leading in their respective parties’ primary races, raising the possibility of a rematch in the 2024 general election. However, it’s worth noting that if Trump secures the presidency, he too would be well into his 80s by the end of his second term.
