In a recent appearance at the Financial Times Weekend Festival in Washington, D.C., former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her concerns about President Joe Biden's age. The issue of Biden's age has been a topic of discussion since he announced his intention to run for a second term in late April.

During a conversation with Financial Times editor Edward Luce, the question of Biden's age was raised. Luce pointed out a recent incident where Biden stumbled while descending the stairs. 

Clinton, 75, did not shy away from addressing the concerns. She stated, "It's a concern for anyone. We've had presidents who had fallen before who were a lot younger, and people didn't go into heart palpitations. But his age is an issue, and people have every right to consider it."

Biden responds

Biden, however, remains resolute in his belief that he is fit for the demands of the presidency.

In a recent interview with Jake Tapper, he defended himself by highlighting his accomplishments and his ability to get things done. He challenged critics by asking them to name any recent president who has achieved as much as he has. 

Biden emphasized, "I believe I can do the job, I have been able to do the job, I've got more done, and I ran on that."

Despite Clinton's initial concerns, she seemed to offer a partial endorsement of Biden when concluding the interview.

She acknowledged his determination and credited his accomplishments, expressing hope that he would remain focused and competitive in the upcoming election. She said, "I think he can be re-elected, and that's what we should all hope for."

Joe Biden’s age is showing

The concern over Biden's age was further fueled by recent incidents during his visit to meet the Japanese Prime Minister and at the G-7 Economic Summit. Reports emerged of Biden appearing confused and stumbling on stairs, raising questions about his cognitive abilities. And he snapped 'Shush Up, OK?” to an Australian reporter.

And perhaps most troubling in the last 7 months, Biden has repeated at least three times the false claim that his son Beau Biden was killed while serving in Iraq. During his visit with United States troops stationed in Japan on Monday, President Biden misspoke again stating, “My son was a major in the US Army. We lost him in Iraq.”

Biden’s son Beau actually passed away in 2015. He died at the age of 46 from brain cancer at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Although he was deployed in 2009, he did not die while fighting in the Middle East. 

 As the next election approaches, it remains to be seen how this issue will shape the public's perception of Biden's ability to lead the nation.