If Donald Trump wins the 2024 election, he will become the oldest U.S. president ever elected, a topic that has become central to this campaign. Recently, former President Bill Clinton took a jab at Trump’s age following a peculiar moment at a town hall where Trump spent nearly 40 minutes swaying to music rather than answering questions, raising concerns about his mental fitness.
As reported by HuffPost, Clinton quipped, “I’m too old to gild a lily. Heck, I’m only two months younger than Donald Trump. But, the good news for you is, I will not spend 30 minutes swaying back and forth to music.” Clinton, who was president from 1993 to 2001, is now 78 years old—the same age as Trump. Clinton became the nation’s youngest president in decades when he took office at 46, while Trump is now the oldest presidential nominee in history.
Clinton’s remarks didn’t sit well with Trump’s supporters. One X (formerly Twitter) user responded, “So Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are ridiculing Trump for swaying to the music. I guess they’ve lost their moves, or they are out of positive things to say about Kamala.” Another added, “But why do you look like you are 30 years older than him?! That explains why you keep reminding people about your age.”
This isn’t Clinton’s first dig at Trump’s age. During the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Clinton used self-deprecating humor before turning the joke toward Trump, saying, “The only personal vanity that I want to assert is that I’m still younger than Donald Trump,” as USA Today reported.
Ironically, Trump, who has spent months attacking President Joe Biden as too old and out of touch, is now facing similar critiques from Democrats. Biden’s advisor, Anita Dunn, noted that Trump’s vision for the country is rooted in the past rather than innovation. Similarly, Harris’ vice-presidential candidate, Tim Walz, mocked Trump, calling him “tired” and in need of “relaxation” on the weekends.
According to Politico, For some critics, Trump’s recent actions have appeared increasingly erratic, with statements ranging from illogical to irrelevant. However, others argue that focusing solely on Trump’s age may not resonate, as many voters still perceive him as more energetic than Biden. There’s also concern that age-based attacks could alienate older voters and conflict with the Democratic Party’s previous stance against age-related criticism.