80-Year-Olds Shouldn't Be Running Country, Romney Says

Mitt Romney has a message for America's political class: Step aside before you're 80. In a Deseret News interview, the 79-year-old Utah Republican, a former governor, senator, and presidential nominee, backed voter sentiment for a younger slate of leaders, saying people in their 80s "really should not be running the world or running the country." Citing journalist Bill Bryson's book The Body, Romney pointed to research suggesting the brain shrinks by about 20% by age 80, the Hill reports. Asked jokingly if he'd try for the White House a third time after runs in 2008 and 2012, Romney said that he'd "love to do it again" and that "this time I might get it right," before acknowledging the age concern.

The comments could be interpreted as a shot at a couple of presidents. Age has come up in the national discussion about President Trump, who turned 80 last month, and former President Biden, who left office at age 82. Romney's relationship with Trump has had its ups and downs, NJ.com points out. Trump endorsed his 2016 presidential bid and his 2018 Senate reelection campaign. Then Romney voted to convict in both of Trump's impeachment trials. He later said Biden should have pardoned Trump.