Arguably, most people wouldn’t be as trusting of an elderly Uber driver as they would a younger one. After all, with old age comes sarcopenia (the age-related progressive loss of muscle mass and strength), cognitive health decline, diminished hearing and worsened eyesight to name a few.
So, if we are less trusting of them to drive us, why do we trust them to run our country?
In Article two, section one, clause five of the U.S. Constitution, it states that “[No person] be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years.” However, the Constitution was written in the late 1700s, when the average lifespan was only 44, which vastly contrasts from today’s average lifespan, thanks to modern medicine, of 77.5 years. Therefore, it is unlikely that America’s founding fathers would have thought of this as an issue, which explains why there is an age minimum but no age maximum.
If there is an age limit to running for presidency, there should be a maximum age limit as well. The risks of electing a leader who is too old to effectively serve outweigh the benefits of unlimited eligibility. While yes, experience is valuable, there comes a point where age-related decline is a legitimate concern.
The past few elections have featured candidates of record ages. In the 2020 election, democratic candidate Joe Biden was 78 and republican candidate Donald Trump was 74.
Fast forward to the 2024 election, where Biden, 81 years old at the time, dropped out after countless allegations that he was too old to run. In the debate, he was criticized for mixing up names and important figures and losing his train of thought.
According to the AP-NORC poll, 77% of Americans believed that during his campaign, Biden was too old to be effective for another four years. Recognizing this as a concern himself, he dropped out of the election July 21, 2024, writing that he believes, “It is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” He then endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris, 59 at the time, for President.
Donald Trump emerged victorious in the 2024 election and is currently in office at 78 years of age. Similar to Biden’s case, Americans are growing skeptical of his age, too.
Personally, I agree with these skeptical Americans. Let’s be real: regardless of political affiliation, aging affects everyone, no matter how sharp his or her mind is — or was. While some people stay mentally strong into their later years, science is clear that cognitive decline is inevitable. Memory slows down, reaction time decreases and decision-making can become less effective. That’s not a criticism—it’s biology. In today’s extremely fast-paced world, Baby Boomers are not the proper choice to perform presidential duties.
So, what’s the solution?
An age cap at 70, three years past the age U.S. citizens born in 1960 or later start receiving Social Security retirement benefits, by Election Day would ensure candidates are still available, physically and mentally, for the demands for a four-year term. According to Science Direct, “Approximately two out of three Americans experience some level of cognitive impairment at an average age of approximately 70 years.” With a cap at 70, this ensures that the candidate would stay within their early to mid 70s while in office.
Some, including AP Government and Politics student senior Nesibe Kalb-Karakaya, may argue that voters themselves should decide if a candidate is too old. “As much as I believe that older people shouldn’t be running our country, I do feel it’s a voter’s right to decide. In AP Gov, we learn about Heuristic voting, which basically implies that Democrats for example who don’t recognize candidates will automatically vote for the Democratic candidate down the ballot. Therefore, people who aren’t educated on the election but identify as a Democrat will likely vote for the Democratic candidate, regardless of the candidate’s policies,” she said.
While Kalb-Karakaya’s opinion is valid, that logic ignores the reality of partisan politics. Many people do vote along party lines, regardless of a candidate’s age or ability. An age limit would be a safeguard to make sure that every president is capable of handling the pressures of the office.
Something else to consider is that the U.S. already has age restrictions on several professions. Airline pilots are required to stop flying commercially by 65, and in Pennsylvania, judges and magisterial district judges must retire upon turning 75.
Also, limiting the maximum age doesn’t mean senior citizens can’t be involved in the government. Older politicians can help in other ways, such as mentoring, advertising, lobbying or holding less strenuous roles within the government, while making sure the highest office is held by someone capable of handling its immense responsibilities.
To be clear, my point is not to disrespect the older generations. My grandparents are all in their later 70s and I love them all dearly. However, there are significant problems in the world today — climate change, conflict in the Middle East, AI, etc — and the U.S., as a world leader, needs a leader who can promote fresh ideas, process information quickly and handle the stress of the modern presidency.
If we want a president who can keep up with the future, we need to set an age limit before the job does it for them. Baby boomers are no longer the answer — we need younger candidates running for office.
“Personally, I’m looking forward to new, young, fresh candidates in 2028. Trump is term limited out, so we the voters will have a major decision for both parties in 2028. My expectation is that voters will react against the last two old candidates and choose someone, young, different and exciting,” AP Government and Politics teacher Mr. Jonathan Pedrone said.
As class president, senior Matthew Ruiz is constantly busy organizing new events and having discussions with administration, specifically Principal Mr. Rodriguez (pictured above). Although a strenuous job, Ruiz has served as class president for the senior class for three consecutive years now and recognizes the work that goes into carrying out presidential duties. “I think there should be age limits on being President because it is a lot of work. Not just anyone can do the job — it requires a strong will power and determination. Older presidents may suffer from health issues or incompetency. Even if age limits aren’t established, I do think a competency test of some sort would be useful,” Ruiz said. (Photos/Mrs. Jennifer Fermin, Andrew Rollins)
