Former Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said the United States needs a new generation of political leadership, arguing in a newly released interview that elected officials over the age of 80 should no longer be serving in the nation’s highest offices.

Speaking with the Deseret News, Romney said he believes advanced age should disqualify candidates from leading the country.

“I basically think people who are 80 and above really should not be running the world or running the country,” he said.

Romney pointed to scientific research on aging, citing journalist Bill Bryson’s book The Body as support for his position.

“He points out that the human brain shrinks by 20 percent by the time you’re 80 years of age,” Romney said, referring to Bryson’s book.

The remarks came during a lighthearted exchange with McKay Coppins of The Atlantic, who hosts the “Deseret Views” podcast. After being asked jokingly whether he would consider another presidential campaign, Romney responded with humor.

“The reality is, sure, I’d love to do it again, and this time I might get it right, you know? Third time’s the charm,” he said, laughing.

Romney sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 before winning it in 2012, when he ultimately lost the general election.

Age became a central issue during the 2024 presidential campaign, with both President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden facing persistent questions about whether they were physically and mentally capable of handling the demands of the presidency.

On the Democratic side, concerns over Biden’s age intensified after a widely criticized debate performance, ultimately leading him to withdraw from the race and endorse then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who was 60 years old, as his replacement.

President Trump became the oldest sitting president during his second term in office and marked his 80th birthday last month by attending a UFC event at the White House. He has also faced continued scrutiny over his health following visible swelling and multiple visits to Walter Reed Medical Center.

Following his annual medical examination in May, however, Trump declared that “everything checked out PERFECTLY!”

In addition to that examination, Trump traveled to Walter Reed in October for a physical and cognitive assessment and underwent his routine annual medical evaluations last April.

{Matzav.com}