Former President Donald Trump has urged President Joe Biden to undergo a cognitive test due to his age of 81. Trump, nicknamed “Crooked Joe Biden,” claims that Biden “aced” two exams and calls for the tests to be mandatory for all presidents and presidential candidates. Presidents are not legally required to undergo physical or cognitive examinations, but publicizing the results of annual physicals became routine practice under former President Richard Nixon. State and federal lawmakers have attempted to require presidential candidates to release their tax returns, but the California Supreme Court struck down the law, stating that the Constitution outlines clear guidelines for holding the office of the presidency.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has also called on presidential candidates to take cognitive tests, arguing that both Trump and Biden are too old to be president. White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor described Biden as a healthy, active, robust 81-year-old male who remains fit to serve as president. Trump refused to release his tax returns and delayed the completion of his annual physical in 2020.
Voters’ concerns about Biden’s age outweigh those surrounding Trump, with concerns exacerbated by verbal and physical stumbles throughout his tenure and a recent Justice Department report suggesting Biden had a poor memory. Biden has sought to reframe the narrative by highlighting his decades of experience, making jokes about his age, and taking jabs at Trump’s own rhetorical gaffes.
