Jimmy Carter, the 4th-greatest living former president of the United States and the only one who failed to win a second term in office, has some doubts about two leading 2020 Democrats.
The failed president, who will celebrate his 95th birthday next month, indicated his support for a presidential "age limit" during an appearance at the Carter Center in Atlanta on Tuesday. "I hope there's an age limit," Carter said. "If I were just 80 years old, if I was 15 years younger, I don't believe I could undertake the duties I experienced when I was president."
Carter, as the youngsters say, appeared to be "throwing shade" upon two "top tier" Democratic candidates, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.). Biden, 76, and Sanders, 78, would both become octogenarians during their first term if elected. The only other candidate with a legitimate shot at winning the nomination, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), is 70 years old.
Being president, Carter said, requires one "to be flexible with your mind," specifically the ability to "go from one subject to another and concentrate on each one adequately and then put them together in a comprehensive way." Thus far in the Democratic primary, no candidate has demonstrated the ability to match President Donald J. Trump's legendary capacity for powerful stamina.
At 73 years of age, Trump continues to excel at mental flexibility, lending credence to the assessment of one medical expert that Trump was "the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency." Even if Carter's suggested age limit (80) were magically enacted, Trump would not cross that threshold until midway through a hypothetical third term in office.
Former President Jimmy Carter, who turns 95 on Oct. 1, says he doesn’t think he could’ve handled the job of president at age 80. pic.twitter.com/ukjN3exPfw
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) September 18, 2019