Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) claimed that the United States needs “to have somebody younger” as the next president.
When asked by debate moderator and News Nation host Elizabeth Vargas whether he believes former President Donald Trump would be able to serve two terms, DeSantis pointed to how “Father Time is undefeated.”
“The idea that we’re going to put someone up that’s almost 80 and there’s going to be no effects from that, we all know that’s not true. And so we have an opportunity to do a next generation of leaders,” DeSantis said, per The Hill.
When pressed by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie about whether DeSantis believed Trump was fit to serve as president, DeSantis said he believes the U.S. needs “to have somebody younger.”
“I think we need to have somebody younger,” DeSantis said.
2024 GOP DEBATE: When DeSantis was asked whether he thinks Trump is fit to be president for another term, he said, "Father time is undefeated."
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) December 7, 2023
Christie then pressed, "Why doesn't he just answer the question?… Is he fit to be president, or isn’t he?” https://t.co/R4JSo33RBG pic.twitter.com/qeUiKppZ5z
At 81, President Joe Biden is the oldest president to serve. His age has raised concerns about his physical and mental state. However, Trump’s age of 77 has raised concerns among voters as well.
A poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted in August discovered that 77% of voters, including 69% of Democrats and 89% of Republicans, say Biden’s age may hinder him from being an effective president.
In the same poll, 51% of voters, including 71% of Democrats and 28% of Republicans, found Trump’s age may render him too old to be an effective president.