President Donald Trump hit Joe Biden, the former vice president, on his age on April 26, responding to a question about how old is too old to run for president.
Biden, 76, announced on Thursday that he was running for president.
“I am a young, vibrant man. I look at Joe, I don’t know about him … I would never say anyone is too old. But they are all making me look very young both in terms of age and in terms of energy,” Trump, 72, told reporters on Friday. “I think in terms of energy. I think you people know that better than anybody.”
Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 77, are the frontrunners in the Democratic field.
Q: “How old is too old to be president.”
President Trump: “Well I just feel like a young man. I’m so young. I can’t believe it. I’m the youngest person — I am a young vibrant man. I look at Joe, I don’t know about him.” pic.twitter.com/AYcZtA0b5J
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 26, 2019
Trump was also asked about the Democratic primary during an interview on Fox News on Thursday night.
“I think, you know, when you look at Joe—I have known Joe over the years. He is not the brightest light bulb in the group, I don’t think, but he has a name that they know. He is coming on with some little cute statements about me that he talked about the way the world is today. Well, I will tell you the way the world is today is we have a strong military,” Trump said, then listing a number of his accomplishments, such as the large tax cuts and improvement at the Veterans Affairs.
“When foreign leaders come in to see me, Sean, they always say, thank you, it’s great to meet you, sir, and congratulations on your economy. It’s the greatest economy anywhere in the world—which it is. Nobody is even close to us. That’s because of the things we have been done,” he added later.
“So, when Biden makes the statement talking about the soul, I mean the soul, take a look at the Obama—you know, I heard somebody say before that there was such dissension and division. People forget there was tremendous division during the Obama administration, tremendous division. We actually have a great spirit right now,” he added.
He also said that he calls Biden “sleepy Joe” because “I have known him for a while and he’s a pretty sleepy guy.” He said,” He’s not going to be able to deal with President Xi. I will tell you. That’s a different level of energy and, frankly, intelligence.”
Trump has spoken about the race to be his challenger several times on Twitter, including one after Biden released his announcement video. “Welcome to the race Sleepy Joe. I only hope you have the intelligence, long in doubt, to wage a successful primary campaign. It will be nasty—you will be dealing with people who truly have some very sick & demented ideas. But if you make it, I will see you at the Starting Gate!” he said.
Biden hasn’t been asked about his late age, which would make him the oldest president ever if he were to win the 2020 election. Trump was the oldest at 70 years old when he was inaugurated. Biden responded after being asked about Trump’s criticism.
The core values of this nation… our standing in the world… our very democracy…everything that has made America — America –is at stake. That’s why today I’m announcing my candidacy for President of the United States. #Joe2020 https://t.co/jzaQbyTEz3
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 25, 2019
“Everybody knows Donald Trump,” he told reporters in Delaware, laughing.
Biden smeared Trump in his announcement video, praising Antifa and other far-left activists while praising them and others who had traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 to clash with white nationalists and groups protesting the possible removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
“If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation, who we are, and I cannot stand by and watch that happen,” Biden said in the clip.
“The core values of this nation… our standing in the world… our very democracy…everything that has made America—America—is at stake. That’s why today I’m announcing my candidacy for President of the United States.”
