Pete Buttigieg questions Trump's 'age and acuity' to hold office for another term after Biden drops out
WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg blasted former President Donald Trump, questioning his "age and acuity" to hold the office for another term.
Buttigieg, who is floated as a potential running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris, launched his attack on the 78-year-old GOP presidential nominee on 'Fox News Sunday' on July 28, a week after President Joe Biden announced his exit from the 2024 race.
The 81-year-old incumbent withdrew his re-election bid, passing the torch to Harris due to mounting pressure from Democratic elected officials and donors who raised concerns about his age and cognitive capacity following a poor debate performance last month.
Speaking to Fox News, Buttigieg praised the president's "extraordinary, historic and selfless choice" to suspend his campaign and instead focus on the remainder of his presidency, as per Daily Mail.
Pete Buttigieg attacks Donald Trump's age and fitness after Joe Biden drops out
"I'm pretty sure voters are worried about the age and acuity of President Trump compared to Kamala Harris who represents being a generation younger," the transportation secretary said to host Shannon Bream. "And how could anybody not watch the stuff he's saying, the rambling on the trail, and not be just a little bit concerned?"
Harris, 59, the Democratic presumptive nominee who is around two decades younger than Trump, would face him in the presidential election if she managed to secure the party nomination at the DNC convention in Chicago next month. With Biden's exit, the real estate mogul became the oldest presidential nominee.
Buttigieg further argued that, in many ways, Americans were worried about the ex-president who was not running against his successor anymore, adding that the former "desparately" wanted to compete against the incumbent.
He also dodged Shannon Bream's question on whether Harris was aware of the extent of Biden's physical and cognitive decline amid new polls indicating she was part of the "cover-up."
In response, Buttigieg said everyone was aware of how the president was doing, and the country watched how he led, noting he was now ten years older.
Emphasizing the difference between how Republicans and Democrats addressed the mental fitness concerns of their candidates, he argued, "But unlike Republicans, right, who in Trump's personality cult will take a look at Donald Trump and say he's perfectly fine even though he seemed unable to tell the difference between Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi, even though he's rambling about electrocuting sharks and Hannibal Lecter, even though he is clearly older and stranger than he was when America first got to know him, they say he's strong as an ox, leaps tall buildings in a single bounds."
"We don't have that kind of warped reality on our side," the Democrat added.
With Harris's ascension to the race for the Democratic ticket, Trump's campaign was forced to reshape its strategy, which was initially focused on attacking Biden's age.
Internet blasts Pete Buttigieg for attacking Donald Trump's 'age and acuity' for office
Netizens accused Buttigieg of lying after he slammed Trump's age and mental acuity to run for office. Some pointed out that the former president had no dementia, unlike Biden.
"Seems awful ageist @PeteButtigieg," a user wrote.
"No they haven’t - @PeteButtigieg is a fraud and a liar," another remarked.
"No one listens to Mr Build across America Buttigieg," added a third user.
"How does Pete manage to be wrong about everything? Who has his voodoo doll?" Read a fourth response.
No they haven’t - @PeteButtigieg is a fraud and a liar #VoteTrump
— Sal (@SundevilSal) July 28, 2024
How does Pete manage to be wrong about everything? Who has his voodoo doll?
— Told Ya So (@RammerJammer018) July 28, 2024
"It was never about age. Buttigieg is being insincere. It was always about Biden appearing to have dementia," someone else claimed.
"Nope. Another lie. Biden was NOT mentally fit, which Harris covered UP for years; Trump is fit. It wasn't the age that was the problem," an individual opined.
"So … the younger guy is too old when your non functioning older guy drops our ? What kind of logic is this?" Asked another user.
"Not long ago, liberals were defending an 81 year-old senile man. Just stop," read one remark.
It was never about age.
— Rural Revolution (@pilgrimboy14) July 29, 2024
Buttigieg is being insincere.
It was always about Biden appearing to have dementia.
Nope. Another lie. Biden was NOT mentally fit, which Harris covered UP for years; Trump is fit. It wasn't the age that was the problem.
— ForTheRepublic (@houzzinspector) July 28, 2024
So … the younger guy is too old when your non functioning older guy drops our ?
— Christopher Couillard (@ChrisCoolyard) July 28, 2024
What kind of logic is this? pic.twitter.com/loNbKU8DRN
Not long ago, liberals were defending an 81 year-old senile man.
— Me (@Keefer1958) July 28, 2024
Just stop.
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