NewsNation

How will age impact the 2024 presidential debate?

(NewsNation) — Numbers may speak louder than words at Thursday’s presidential debate.

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, are three years apart in age. At 81 and 78 years old, respectively, their ages will likely have a moment in the spotlight during the first 2024 presidential debate.


Either candidate would be the oldest person to be elected president in history if they won in November. Trump’s camp, however, believes he has an advantage. The former president’s campaign launched an ad poking fun at Biden’s age and coordination.  

Sources told NewsNation that Biden has been prepping with mock debates at Camp David since Sunday. His campaign rolled out a seven-figure advertising blitz of its own in Georgia, attempting to paint Trump as a threat to democracy, abortion access and more.

“Today’s show of force in Atlanta and across the battlegrounds emphasizes the two contrasting visions the American people will see on the debate stage tonight: between President Biden fighting for the American people, and Donald Trump, whose campaign is focused on benefitting one person only: himself,” the campaign’s senior spokesperson, Kevin Munoz, said in a statement.

Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 70, didn’t qualify to participate in the CNN debate. Instead, he said he’ll answer the same questions live online.