A report published by Daily Mail on Thursday, January 18, 2024, former President Donald Trump, aged 77, asserted his physical and mental well-being, stating that he feels akin to a 35-year-old. Addressing concerns raised by a recent Daily Mail report regarding physicians expressing worries about his health, Trump spoke at a rally in Portsmouth, emphasizing that he feels ‘cognitively’ two decades younger and in better shape than he was in his 40s.
Trump attributed his vitality to a healthy lifestyle and proudly mentioned the results of a cognitive test administered by former White House Physician Ronny Jackson. Recalling Jackson’s humorous comment, Trump said, ‘If he didn’t eat so much junk food, he’d be around for 200 years.’ Despite his known preferences for McDonald’s and Diet Coke, Trump insisted that he is both physically and mentally prepared for another four-year term.
During his address, Trump took the opportunity to comment on his potential 2024 competitors, specifically Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis. He alleged that Haley relies on left-leaning independents and Democrats changing their registration to vote for her in the Republican primary to thwart his bid. Recent polls have shown a surge for Haley in New Hampshire, with some surveys indicating a close race between her and Trump.
Predicting DeSantis’ withdrawal from the 2024 race ‘very soon,’ Trump cited the Florida governor’s disappointing second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. Given that New Hampshire is more liberal than Iowa, Trump noted the challenges faced by socially conservative candidates like himself and DeSantis in the state.
Despite being the oldest candidate in the Republican primary, Trump dismissed concerns about his age and health, declaring, ‘I feel like I’m about 35 years old.’ He highlighted his cognitive abilities, challenging President Joe Biden, aged 81, and recalling the cognitive test results conducted by Rep. Jackson during his tenure as White House physician.
With New Hampshire’s primary scheduled for January 23, 2024, allowing undeclared and independent voters to participate in the Republican primaries if they decide to join ahead of time, Trump criticized Governor Chris Sununu for allowing left-leaning voters to influence the Republican primaries. He accused Haley of depending on such voters for victory. As the Republican primary unfolds, Trump’s efforts to dispel health concerns and reaffirm his vitality underscore the intensity of the competition in New Hampshire, setting the stage for a pivotal contest in the race for the party’s nomination ahead of the election.
