Trump reups calls for aptitude tests after Biden’s birthday rebuke
Former President Trump took a swing at President Biden Friday during his birthday message, reupping his calls for aptitude tests as the incumbent continues to face scrutiny over his mental fitness.
Trump celebrated his 78th birthday Friday at a Club 47 event in West Palm Beach, Fla., using much of his speech attacking Biden as the two presumptive party nominees head for a rematch in November, The Associated Press reported.
“Our country is being destroyed by incompetent people,” Trump told his supporters in a subtle dig at Biden, who will turn 82 shortly after Election Day. “All presidents should have aptitude tests.”
Biden “doesn’t know where the hell he is,” he added.
The former president has consistently called on Biden to take a cognitive test, especially after a report from special counsel Robert Hur in February painted the incumbent as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory." However, Biden's doctors have determined through tests that he is "fit for office."
In honor of the former president’s birthday, the Biden campaign released a video listing “78 of Trump’s historic… ‘accomplishments.’” The video included Trump’s “cutting Social Security and Medicare” as well as his recent conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush money case.
The verdict, which made him the first former president to be convicted on felony charges, hasn’t deterred his supporters.
While Biden is now just three years older than Trump, the former president and fellow Republicans have raised questions and criticized the sitting president for running due to his age and alleged decline of mental competency.
“Age is just a number, but an election is a choice,” the Biden campaign video said.
Campaign spokesperson James Singer added to the birthday wishes, saying “on behalf of America, our early gift for your 79th: Making sure you are never President again,” per the AP.
Nonetheless, the Biden campaign’s efforts to squash Trump’s day may not have worked. The former president spent his birthday surrounded by 5,000 of his fans and a towering "Make America Great Again" cake.
The celebration also comes a day after the presumptive GOP nominee spent time visiting with Republican members of Congress in Washington. Following separate closed-door meetings with the House and Senate GOP, Trump touted his "great relationship" with the party and seemingly mended some fences with some of his most vocal critics, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Lawmakers also sang "Happy Birthday" to him.
The Associated Press contributed.