First Lady Jill Biden slammed Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s call for politicians over the age of 75 to undergo mental capacity tests, according to reports.
According to CNN, the first lady called the proposal ridiculous in an interview set to air Monday night, and when asked if the president would consider taking a mental capacity test if elected, she said, “We would never even discuss something like that.”
Haley, 51, announced her candidacy for president as a Republican last month and made headlines after calling for “mental competency tests” for politicians over the age of 75.
President Joe Biden turned 80 in November, and former President Donald Trump, who is also running for president this time around, is 76.
According to a Fox News Poll conducted in late February, 77% of Americans support requiring such tests, with 83% of millennials, 84% of GenXers, and 66% of Baby Boomers supporting the idea.
According to the study, 87% of Republicans, 74% of Independents, and 67% of Democrats support mental capacity tests. When interviewed by CNN, the first lady rejected the idea of the tests.
“How many 30-year-olds could travel to Poland, get on the train, go nine more hours, go to Ukraine, meet with President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy?” she asked the news network. “So, look at the man. Look at what he’s doing. Look at what he continues to do each and every day.”
The first lady is not the first person to reject Haley’s proposal, and she is unlikely to be the last.
In fact, in an interview with CBS last week, former Vice President Mike Pence disagreed with the presidential president’s proposal.
“I come from southern Indiana where people think most politicians should have a competency test,” Pence, 63, joked. “No, I think the American people can sort that out. I really do.”
