Why are US politicians so old? And why do they want to stay in office?

Donald Trump, left, and Joe Biden, both photographed on Nov. 2, 2023, are two of the three oldest men ever to serve as president. Trump: Brandon Bell/Getty Images; Biden: AP Photo/Evan Vucci by Mary Kate Cary, University of Virginia Two polls out on July 3, 2024 – both taken after last Thursday’s presidential debate – show that more voters are now supporting former President Donald Trump over President Joe Biden. The news comes amid a barrage of media reports that leading Democrats are questioning Biden’s abilities and stamina because of his age. Biden, 81, is the first octogenarian to occupy the Oval Office – and his main rival, former President Donald Trump, is 78. I first wrote about most voters’ concerns about the presidential candidates’ ages in the fall of 2023 – and since then, those concerns have only grown. In February, special counsel Robert Hur declined to charge Biden with mishandling classified documents because he presents as an “elderly man with a poor memory,” he wrote. The report caused outrage among some Democrats at the time. A Gallup Poll released in June 2024 found that about 67% of Americans say Biden is too old to be president. Meanwhile, 37%...