Is the US leadership too old?

Joe Biden is the oldest sitting president in US history. At 80, he is nearly 20 years older than the average age of 62 for world leaders, according to the Pew Research Center.

The oldest current head of state is Cameroonian President Paul Biya, 89. However, President Joe Biden is also old enough to be the "grandfather" of Chilean President Gabriel Boric or Sanna Marin, who resigned as Finnish Prime Minister last month - both of whom are 37.

In the US, President Joe Biden is still younger than some members serving in Congress .

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was stunned during his weekly press conference at the US Congress on July 26. The senator suddenly stopped speaking, stood still and stared straight ahead for 23 seconds, making those around him worried.

“Are you okay, Mitch? Is there anything else you want to say or should we go back to your office?” Senator John Barrasso asked, leaning down.

Mitch McConnell was helped by colleagues after he "froze" during a press conference. Photo: AP

The 81-year-old senator's "frozen" moment raised concerns about his health, especially after he was hospitalized and treated for a concussion after a fall in March.

However, Mitch McConnell is not the oldest person in the US Congress. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein are both 89 years old, and Senator Bernie Sanders is also 81 years old like McConnell.

Many US lawmakers are in their 70s, and the average age of the Senate is 65.3 – the seventh highest in the world, according to FiveThirtyEight.

Joe Biden’s age has raised questions about whether he should run for a second term as president of the United States. He recently tripped over a sandbag on stage at the Air Force Academy and fell forward. It also appears that his age has led to some missteps, according to Reuters .

US President Joe Biden recently tripped over a sandbag on stage. Photo: AP

Joe Biden could face Republican Donald Trump, 77, in the 2024 White House race. A Reuters poll found that many Americans think the two men should not run because of their advanced age.

When asked about Mr. Biden’s age, the White House pointed to his accomplishments, including winning the 2020 presidential election, helping Democrats avoid defeat in the 2022 midterm elections and getting Congress to pass many new laws as US president.

According to the Pew Research Center, President Biden is not among the 10 oldest leaders in office in the world.

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