WASHINGTON: Former President Donald Trump, 77, responded to recent attacks on his age and verbal gaffes by Republican presidential rival Nikki Haley, asserting that he feels “sharper now than I did 20 years ago.”
Speaking at a rally in Nevada ahead of the state’s Republican caucus on Feb. 8, Trump also endorsed the idea of presidential candidates taking cognitive tests, seemingly in response to a challenge from Haley.
Haley, who has advocated for mandatory cognitive tests for presidential candidates, citing concerns about the ages of Trump and current President Joe Biden, 81, has accused Trump of being confused and questioned his ability to serve as president.
Trump’s recent verbal slip-ups, including confusing Haley with former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have fueled Haley’s criticism.
At the Nevada rally, Trump claimed almost all of the state’s 26 delegates, as Haley is not competing in the caucus. Trump targeted both Haley and Biden, attempting to undermine Haley’s presence in the nominating race while gearing up for a potential general election rematch with Biden in November.
Despite securing back-to-back wins in the Iowa and New Hampshire Republican contests, Trump remains irked by Haley’s refusal to drop out.
A campaign to force Haley out before the next significant vote in South Carolina on Feb. 24 has begun, with Trump threatening to cut ties with donors supporting Haley.
During his speech, Trump referred to Haley as “birdbrain” and labeled her, a conservative Republican, as “almost a radical left Democrat.” He emphasized the need to conclude the nomination fight, asserting his lead over Haley in South Carolina polls.
Shifting focus to Biden, Trump highlighted concerns about the southern border, characterizing the surge in illegal crossings as a “catastrophe” and an “invasion.”
Record numbers of migrants have crossed the US-Mexico border since Biden assumed office in 2021, making immigration a top issue in the upcoming general election.
Biden and his campaign, in turn, intensified attacks on Trump, portraying him as a threat to US democracy and linking him to the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to end federal abortion rights—an issue blamed for Republican setbacks in the 2022 midterm elections.
As the political jockeying intensifies, the 2024 presidential race continues to be marked by sharp exchanges and strategic maneuvering.