Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) warned Republican voters to “assume” that President Joe Biden would not be the Democratic presidential candidate in the 2024 election.
While speaking during a town hall event on Monday with Newsmax, DeSantis, 45, described himself as being in “the prime” of his life compared to Biden, who turned 81 on the same day, and Trump, 77.
DeSantis added he believes the Democratic Party “knows” Biden‘s age is a “big issue” to voters.
“I think that the Democrats know his…the age…it’s a big issue with voters, I think,” DeSantis said. “And, so I think they want someone else.”
DeSantis stressed how Biden “should not be running again” and compared “where he was 40 years ago” to where he is today you can see a decline in him.
“This is father time,” DeSantis added. “This is just the nature of life that this happens. And, if you’re a pilot for an airline they make you retire at 65. So, if you can’t pilot a plane, somehow at 81 you can pilot the United States of America. And, we see, he’s totally lost step. I mean, it’s a daily embarrassment.”
Biden’s age has been a significant concern among voters. An Associated Press/NORC poll from August showed that 77% of voters felt that Biden’s age was a bigger problem for his reelection. This is compared to Trump’s age where 51% of voters felt Trump’s age was a problem.
A similar Reuters/Ipsos poll from September showed that 77% of people were concerned about Biden’s age and fitness to be president, while 56% of people said Trump was too old for office.
“They also know they can’t just push him aside,” DeSantis said, referring to the Democratic Party. “He’s got to agree. He’s the sitting president, and I don’t know how that’s going to work. I don’t know if he’s going to be willing to do it. But, Republican voters and Iowa caucusgoers, you should assume that it may not be Biden.”
DeSantis added that Republicans should be prepared to vote for a candidate who will do better against possible presidential candidates such as Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.).
While Newsom has denied that he is running for president in the upcoming 2024 election and has expressed support for Biden, recent political moves suggest he may be running a shadow campaign to be the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.