'80 is the new 40,' White House quips, pressed on Biden’s election bid

Ipsos SA

15/09/2023 20:57

WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The White House on
Friday addressed a fresh round of questions about President Joe
Biden's ability to run for reelection given his age with a
one-liner: "80 is the new 40."
    Biden, 80, already the oldest American president ever, is
running for re-election in 2024 and would be 82 when his second
four-year term begins in January 2025 if he wins.
    A variety of polls show concerns among voters about Biden's
age, and that of his top Republican challenger, Donald Trump,
77. The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Democrat Biden tied in a
hypothetical 2024 election against Trump, the former president.
Both received 39% of the vote with one in five voters undecided.
    Most Americans would prefer the cutoff for running for
president to be 75 or younger, an earlier Reuters/Ipsos poll
shows. 
    Asked about concerns the president would be too old run for
reelection, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
quipped, "80 is the new 40, didn't you hear?"
     "In 2019, he got the same criticism, in 2020, he got the
same criticism, in 2022 he got the same criticism and every time
he beats the naysayers," Jean-Pierre said.     

 (Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Heather Timmons and
Timothy Gardner)
 ((Steve.a.holland@thomsonreuters.com;
www.twitter.com/steveholland1; 202 898 8300; Reuters Messaging:
steve.holland.reuters.com@reuters.net))