Mitt Romney Says Americans Over 80 Should Not Run the Country
WASHINGTON — Former Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said Americans aged 80 and older should not run the country, rejecting another presidential bid during an interview published July 8, 2026. His statement placed President Donald Trump’s age under renewed political scrutiny.
Trump turned 80 on June 14 and remains the oldest person inaugurated as president. Former President Joe Biden is 83, while Romney is 79 and will reach his proposed cutoff before the 2028 election.
Romney Rejects Another Campaign
Romney discussed his political future with journalist McKay Coppins on the Deseret Voices podcast, which was published online on July 8. Coppins asked whether the former Massachusetts governor might consider running for president again in 2028.
Romney joked that a third campaign might produce a different result. He then dismissed the idea and offered a firm view on age.
“I basically think people who are 80 and above really should not be running the world or running the country,” Romney said.
Romney referred to Bill Bryson’s book The Body while explaining his concern about aging and the brain. He did not present a medical assessment of Trump, Biden, or any other public official.
Romney will turn 80 in March 2027. His position would exclude him from the 2028 presidential race under the standard he described.
Generational Change Framed Romney’s Exit
Romney used a similar argument when he announced in 2023 that he would not seek a second Senate term. He said the nation needed a new generation of leaders to confront long-term challenges.
He completed his Utah Senate term in January 2025. His career also included service as Massachusetts governor and management of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
Romney sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and became the party’s nominee in 2012. He lost the general election to President Barack Obama.
His later clashes with Trump made him a prominent Republican critic. Romney was the only Republican senator to vote to convict Trump on an article of impeachment in the first Senate trial.
He joined six other Republican senators who voted to convict Trump during the second trial after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The Senate acquitted Trump in both proceedings because neither vote reached the required two-thirds majority.
Those votes separated Romney from most Republican lawmakers during Trump’s rise. They also made his latest comments politically sensitive, even without a direct reference to Trump.
Trump’s Age Gives Remarks Weight
Trump was born on June 14, 1946, and turned 80 while serving his second term. He began that term in January 2025 at age 78, making him the oldest president inaugurated in U.S. history.
Biden previously held that distinction. He entered office at 78 in January 2021 and left the White House at 82 four years later.
Age became a central issue during the 2024 presidential campaign. Biden faced sustained scrutiny over his stamina, speaking performances, and ability to complete another term.
He ended his reelection bid after a widely criticized debate against Trump. Biden’s withdrawal placed concerns about age, health disclosures and presidential capacity at the center of the campaign.
Romney did not mention either president by name in the podcast passage. His proposed limit, however, covers Trump, Biden, and Romney himself.
Voters Back Maximum Ages
Romney’s comments reflect a concern that extends beyond one party. A 2023 national survey found that 79% of Americans favored maximum age limits for elected officials in Washington.
Support crossed party lines. The survey found backing among 82% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents and 76% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents.
The results show broad interest in restrictions, but they do not settle how a presidential limit would work. Lawmakers would need to decide when the restriction should apply.
A candidate could be younger than 80 on Election Day but reach the limit before taking office. Another could turn 80 during a four-year term.
A fixed cutoff would also treat every candidate of the same age alike, despite differences in health and ability. Opponents argue that voters should judge candidates individually.
Supporters point to the presidency’s physical demands and national security responsibilities. They argue that a ceiling could reduce uncertainty over a full four-year term.
Constitution Includes No Age Ceiling
The Constitution requires a president to be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and a U.S. resident for 14 years. It sets no maximum age for a candidate or sitting president.
Creating a binding presidential age limit would likely require a constitutional amendment. That process requires two-thirds approval in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.
The 25th Amendment cannot serve as a general age restriction. It provides procedures for presidential vacancies and inability to perform official duties, not removal based solely on age.
Congress could pursue stronger medical disclosures without imposing a cutoff. Candidates already release health information, but they control the level of detail and which examinations are disclosed.
Romney has not announced legislation, an amendment campaign, or a formal effort to establish an 80-year limit. His statement remains a personal standard as both parties prepare for 2028.
Trump remains president, Biden remains out of office, and Romney says he will not run again. Under existing constitutional rules, otherwise eligible candidates may still seek the presidency after turning 80.
