By Ryan King
Progressive firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez downplayed concerns over President Biden’s age — and even insisted he is “one of the most successful presidents in modern American history.”
In an interview with CNN Tuesday evening, the lawmaker pointed out that Donald Trump, the 2024 GOP front-runner, is 77 years old himself.
“I think right now, when it comes to the president’s age, folks, are talking about how he’s 81,” said Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), 34.
“But we have to look at, first of all, Donald Trump is around the same age. They could have gone to high school together. And beyond that, Donald Trump has 91 indictments.”
Ocasio-Cortez then threw all her support behind the octogenarian leader, offering him high praise.
“I know who I’m going to choose — it’s going to be one of the most successful presidents in modern American history,” she said, affirming that Biden will be the Democratic nominee.
“[He] passed the inflation reduction that got us the American Rescue Plan that ensured that we could pass one of the largest federal investments in climate change in US history.”
Anxiety over Biden’s age was turbocharged last week by special counsel Robert Hur’s bombshell report that suggested the president was beset by “diminished faculties” and documented numerous instances of forgetfulness.
Hur ultimately cleared Biden of wrongdoing regarding his handling of classified documents, citing precedent, the president’s cooperation, and the specter of a jury being reticent to convict a “well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.”
Biden and his allies vehemently fired back at Hur, a Trump-appointed former US attorney for the district of Maryland, and contended that the chief executive’s mental acuity remains sharp. A lawyer for Biden present for their five-hour interview also strenuously denied Hur’s characterizations of the president’s memory.
Still, polls have shown that voters are concerned. An ABC News/Ipsos poll released Sunday found that a whopping 86% of Americans believe Biden is too old to complete another term.