The next president's age may put the US at a disadvantage

Experts say a vulnerable leader projects a weak image for the country, hurts credibility

- Bhagyashree Garekar, Varun karthik

Not a day goes by without the American media wringing its hands over the fact that the next US president whether it is Mr Joe Biden or Donald Trump will be the oldest US president in history.

When Mr Biden entered the White House at the age of 78 in 2021, he also entered the history books as the oldest president to be sworn in. Two years later, he became the first octogenarian in the White House and is currently the ninth-oldest among theworld's leaders.

If Trump, 78, is elected, he will become America's second octogenarian president.

Will the advanced age of the new US president devalue him or the country he represents?

Will it put the US at a disadvantage in handling volatile foreign policy situations?

"When we see a leader - of any nation who is vulnerable, we tend to think that that nation is vulnerable as well," said Adjunct Professor Mary Kate Cary from the University of Virginia's Department of Politics.

"We all know people in their 80s and 90s who are very sharp, so I don't want to generalise too much," she added.

"So far, this seems to be a domestic political conversation, but if it goes on much longer, many people are concerned about the impact this will have overseas," said Prof Cary, a speechwriter for former US president George Bush.

The age question is already causing wrinkles overseas.

Asia's many flashpoints - from China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea, to cross-strait tensions with Taiwan - would demand the attention of a future American president, said Mr Kevin Chen, associate research fellow with the US programme at Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

"Actions taken or opportunities missed by Washington can have dire consequences for our region," he noted.