Former Utah Senator Mitt Romney said on Wednesday that people 80 and above shouldn’t run the country, and he ruled out any bid for the presidency in 2028, citing concerns about cognitive decline with advanced age.
“I basically think people who are 80 and above really should not be running the world or running the country,” Romney told Deseret News in an interview released this week. He pointed to research showing that the human brain shrinks by 20 percent by age 80, referencing journalist Bill Bryson’s book “The Body.”
Romney, 79, was asked in jest about whether he might run for president again, joking that he’d “love to do it again, and this time I might get it right. Third time’s the charm.” But his comments made clear he won’t pursue the office, effectively closing the door on a 2028 bid.
Romney’s stance reflects a broader shift in American politics toward calls for younger leadership. Biden faced mounting pressure over his age during the 2024 campaign, particularly after a disastrous debate performance against Trump in June 2024. The calls for younger leadership were so strong on the Democratic side that Biden rescinded his reelection bid and backed former Vice President Kamala Harris, then 60, to run in his place.
Trump, now 80 himself, became the oldest sitting president during his second term, celebrating his 80th birthday on June 14, 2026, at a UFC event at the White House. He continues to face questions about his health and has made multiple visits to Walter Reed Medical Center, though he insisted after his last exam in May that “everything checked out PERFECTLY!”
Sources
- The Hill — Romney’s comments about age in leadership, his joking response about 2028, and his citation of brain shrinkage research from Bill Bryson’s book
- AP — Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race following his disastrous debate performance and age concerns
- NJ.com — Romney’s ruling out of a 2028 presidential bid
- Multiple sources — Trump’s 80th birthday in June 2026 and his status as oldest sitting president
