President Joe Biden took a fresh approach in attacking his political opponent, Donald Trump, focusing on the former president’s age. In an interview on NBC’s “Late Night” with Seth Meyers, the 81-year-old Biden responded to critics questioning his own age by highlighting Trump’s age, who is 77.
Mocking Trump’s memory lapse, Biden quipped, “He’s about as old as I am, but he can’t remember his wife’s name,” referring to an incident where Trump mistakenly called his wife Melania “Mercedes” during a CPAC speech.
Biden emphasized that voters should consider not just the age of a candidate but also the relevance of their ideas. He criticized Trump’s desire to revert to past positions on issues such as Roe v. Wade, stating, “He wants to take us back on a whole range of issues that are – 50, 60 years, they’ve been solid American positions.”
The interview took place shortly after the White House announced Biden’s visit to the Texas-Mexico border on the same day Trump planned to be in Eagle Pass, Texas. This move could signal a shift in Biden’s messaging strategy, as the two leaders have not often attacked each other based on age.
During his Texas visit, Biden aims to discuss border security with Border Patrol agents, law enforcement, and local officials. Simultaneously, he plans to meet with congressional leaders to address border issues, avert a government shutdown, and secure additional funding for Ukraine.
Biden criticized Trump’s policies during the interview, highlighting achievements like infrastructure development. He also expressed concern over Trump’s statement suggesting he would allow Russia to act freely against NATO member countries.
In a broader context, Biden voiced foreign leaders’ fears of a second Trump term, emphasizing the potential negative impact on U.S. relationships with other countries. This represents a departure from the previous narrative, where Trump focused on painting Biden as “incompetent” and “cognitively impaired” rather than solely targeting his age.