Soon-to-be President Donald Trump was born on June 14, 1946, making him a grand 78 years old. He is the oldest president-elect in the history of the USA. His recent re-election provokes the question: How old is too old to be leading one of the world’s most powerful countries?
President Biden, born November 20, 1942, endorsed Harris in the recent election after age concerns forced him to withdraw from the race. He is only four years older than Trump – so where do we draw the line?
Current Age Limits
Candidates must be at least 35 years of age in order to run for US President. This means that Malala Yousaf, born in 1997 (aged 27) could not run for US President (and let’s be honest, she knows a lot more about the world than Mr Trump). If there is such a high age limit for the lower end of the spectrum, should there not be an age limit at the top end?
The average retirement age in the USA is 62 years old. Trump is officially 16 years past his expiration date – not to mention that he grew up, was educated, and politically and socially informed in an entirely different era.
Let’s put the year of 1946 into perspective…
A chronological list of what Trump is older than:
- The Country of India (Recognised in 1947)
- Walkers Crisps (1948)
- The Modern State of Israel (1948)
- Frisbees (1948)
- McDonalds (1948)
- Cartoon character Dennis the Menace (first appeared in 1951)
- The Coronation of the longest-running UK Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II (1952)
- The Royal Yacht Britannica (Launched 1952)
- Colour Television (1954)
- The Civil Rights Movement (Started 1954)
- The Polio Vaccine (1955)
- Nasa (Founded 1958)
- The States of Hawaii and Alaska (1959)
- Galaxy Chocolate (1960)
- Abolishment of Segregation in the USA (1964)
- The University of Stirling (founded 1967)
- Brig Newspaper (1969)
- Woman opening a bank account in their own name (1975)
- The Scottish Parliament (1999)
And so, so, so much more.
It is safe to say that Trump’s age separates him from modern society. He is from a different time – he was already 18 years old when segregation was abolished.
This man grew up in a world where women were treated differently depending on whether they were married, people of colour were actively segregated, and he couldn’t enjoy Galaxy chocolate until he was 14 years old. Clearly, he has not moved on from this political environment, evident from documents such as Project 2025.
This list puts into perspective just how much the world has changed since Trump’s birth in 1946. Trump is old – it’s as simple as that. Whether he is too old to be doing what he is doing? That’s subjective, however, if the evidence presented in this article doesn’t trigger the thought that Trump is an old man from a wildly different political and social world, then I don’t know what will.
This isn’t a matter of ageism. It’s a matter of outdated political views, disconnection from modern reality, cognitive health, and longevity. The impact that he will have on LGBTQ+ communities, people of colour, the working class – basically anyone who isn’t a millionaire – will be like going back in time. The man belongs on a sunlounger back in Florida, working on his horrific tan – not in the White House. A retirement home would be significantly more appropriate for a 78-year-old businessman. But hey, maybe he’ll prove us all wrong…
You can read more on Trump’s questionable re-election here.
Featured Image Credit: Brig Image Archives
Journalism student at the University of Stirling & BRAW Magazine editor 24/25 and 25/26 🙂
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