Joe Biden Turns 80 Amid 2024 Speculation

President Joe Biden marked his 80th birthday on Sunday, becoming the first octogenarian president in U.S. history.

For Context: Biden was already the oldest-serving president in U.S. history, and is now one of a few world leaders who are in their eighties. The oldest U.S. president at the end of his tenure was Ronald Reagan at 77, followed by Donald Trump at 74. U.S. leaders have trended older in recent years. Before the 2022 midterm elections, the average age of a U.S. senator was 64.3, the oldest in the chamber's history.

How the Media Covered It: Sources across the political spectrum placed Biden's 80th birthday in the context of a potential 2024 run. Many also interviewed Americans and gathered their varying perspectives on Biden's age. An article from Slate (Left bias) focused specifically on advice and thoughts from fellow 80-year-olds. The Washington Examiner's (Lean Right bias) editorial board urged Biden not to seek the presidency in 2024, and argued that running again would be "an act of selfishness" and that he's "become a danger to himself and others." The New York Times (Lean Left bias) highlighted several medical professionals who agreed that, despite his age, Biden "has a lot going in his favor" healthwise. Some, such as Fox News (Right bias), highlighted Biden's age in non-birthday headlines, such as "80-year-old Biden falsely claims Delaware has most chickens in the nation."