In light of recent uncertain public appearances, Donald Trump sought to reassure voters of his mental sharpness with a convoluted argument, stating that while he is not particularly old, age shouldn’t matter at all. As the election approaches, Trump is traversing from one town hall to another, and during a recent event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he essentially conveyed to the audience that age is merely a figure.
“I’m not 80 and I’m not close to 80,” declared the 78-year-old former president. Naturally, Trump took a moment to jab at his former rival by adding, “in Biden’s case, he’s 81 or 82.” However, it appears that Trump might have had an epiphany—should he win the election, he would also be the same age as Biden during his second term, which could explain his subsequent shift in reasoning.
After emphasizing he’s not quite 80, Trump went on to claim that age wouldn’t matter if he were. “We’ve had some of the most remarkable leaders in history who were in their eighties,” Trump argued. He cited Rupert Murdoch as an example of someone who remains astute well into his nineties. It’s Trump’s approach to simultaneously position himself as a youthful contender merely two years shy of 80, while asserting that his age is irrelevant. Seems reasonable enough.
Trump attempted to back up his claims regarding his mental fitness. “I’ve taken cognitive tests,” he exclaimed proudly. “I’ve taken them twice and aced both times. One doctor even said he’s never seen anyone ace them.” This raises eyebrows; the idea of a doctor stating they’ve “never” encountered anyone ace a fundamental cognitive assessment sounds a bit dubious.
While Trump didn’t detail which cognitive assessments he underwent, it’s likely he is referring to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), which he previously boasted about passing with a flawless score in 2018. The MoCA test is not an exhaustive evaluation of cognitive function; rather, it’s a basic, one-page, ten-minute test meant to gauge fundamental mental competency.
Trump faced scrutiny in the past for his assertions of “acing” the MoCA during an interview with Chris Wallace, who had also taken the test. Yet Trump stood firm, insisting passing the test was a significant achievement. “I bet you couldn’t even answer the last five questions,” Trump quipped to Wallace. “They get very challenging, those last five questions.”
It appears Trump still believes that voters will be impressed by his ability to pass a cognitive test from six years ago. A key part of Trump’s strategy this election cycle has been to highlight Joe Biden’s age and mental acumen, establishing himself as the sharper candidate compared to “sleepy Joe.” However, as Trump now faces a contender nearly twenty years younger than him, selling himself as the more vibrant option proves to be a challenge. By attempting to straddle the narrative of being ‘not old’ yet ‘old but intellectually fit,’ Trump seems to be desperately trying to alleviate voter concerns regarding his age and mental agility, and the effectiveness of his efforts remains questionable.
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