By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Donald Trump, the 78-year-old Republican contender, has made a surprising statement regarding his future in politics.
In a recent interview on the news program Full Measure, Trump declared that if he loses the upcoming November 5 election to Democratic rival Kamala Harris, he will not run again for the presidency in 2028.
When asked about the possibility of another run, Trump stated, “No, I don’t. I think … that will be it. I don’t see that at all.” He also expressed his hope to be “successful” at the ballot box.
This development comes after current President Joe Biden, 81, withdrew from the 2024 presidential race due to concerns about his age.
Biden’s decision has sparked conversations about age and cognitive abilities, with some experts noting that the discussion has lacked nuance.
Cognitive neurologist Kirk Daffner suggests that the recent focus on Biden’s age has portrayed old age as a time of frailty and cognitive decline, which doesn’t accurately reflect the variability in cognitive abilities among older individuals.
The current polls indicate a tight competition between Trump and Harris, with both candidates neck and neck in key swing states.These states are crucial in determining the election’s outcome.
Notably, Harris became the Democratic candidate after Biden’s withdrawal.
Trump’s statement comes amidst ongoing controversies surrounding his past election claims.
Following his loss to Biden in 2020, Trump refused to accept defeat, alleging election fraud and sparking conspiracy theories.
This led to a violent incident on January 6, 2021, where Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the election certification.
Additionally, Trump faces criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Despite this, he maintains his innocence and views the indictments as politically motivated.
Trump has also declined to commit to recognizing the outcome of the November election unconditionally.
If Trump were to launch a fourth presidential campaign in 2028, he would be 82 years old.