Donald Trump reignited attacks on Joe Biden’s alertness while campaigning on the economy — a strategy that highlights striking parallels between the two oldest presidents in U.S. history. Trump has been seen nodding off at events and faces health questions including leg swelling, bruising and an October MRI later described by the White House as normal. Analysts say his new roadshow echoes Biden’s effort to sell “Bidenomics,” even as economic indicators — slower job growth, higher unemployment and persistent price pressures — leave many voters skeptical. Polling shows mixed support: 41% overall approval but only 31% approval on handling the cost of living, and experts warn that downplaying inflation risks political fallout similar to Biden’s experience.
Trump Mocks ‘Sleepy Joe’ — But Faces The Same Age, Health And Economic Scrutiny
Donald Trump arrived in Pennsylvania to tout his economic record but spent much of his speech reviving attacks on his predecessor, asking supporters: “Which is better: Sleepy Joe or Crooked Joe?” He continued to trade nicknames, saying, “Typically, Crooked Joe wins. I’m surprised because to me he’s a sleepy son of a bitch.”
The jibe at President Joe Biden’s alertness was undercut by an obvious irony: the 79-year-old Trump himself has been photographed and filmed appearing to nod off at meetings and events in recent months. That resemblance — of age, physical signs and political vulnerability — is a central theme critics and analysts are now pointing to.
Roadshow Echoes Biden’s Messaging
Tuesday’s event launched what aides described as a roadshow intended to reassure voters that the economy is in steady hands. The effort drew uncomfortable parallels with Biden’s earlier travels to sell “Bidenomics,” a campaign that failed to persuade many voters despite administration claims of economic progress.
Trump has repeatedly blamed Biden for inflation, migration challenges and the Afghanistan withdrawal. Yet Republicans now confront similar political headwinds: persistent cost-of-living concerns, slowing job growth and the optics of two elderly presidents trying to convince voters they understand everyday economic pain.
“It’s hard not to see the parallels both in terms of their age and how that manifests itself and certainly the condition of the economy,” said Kurt Bardella, a political analyst and NewsNation contributor. “Trump has been cast in this role that Joe Biden had to play out and seemingly trying to use the same script… It’s an unenviable political challenge.”
Health Questions And Public Optics
Both men are the oldest presidents in U.S. history, and each has faced scrutiny over mental and physical fitness. Trump has used questions about Biden’s stamina as political ammunition — creating a mocking “presidential walk of fame” at the White House and publicly deriding Biden’s alleged sleepiness.
At the same time, Trump has contended with his own health questions. In July the White House disclosed he had a medical checkup after noticing “mild swelling” in his lower legs and that doctors identified an age-related condition that can cause blood to pool in the veins. Photographs have shown bruising on the back of his hand and, recently, bandages on his right hand which the White House said resulted from frequent handshakes.
Trump also acknowledged uncertainty about which part of his body was scanned during an October MRI; the White House later clarified the MRI covered his heart and abdomen and reported the results as “perfectly normal.” Observers have pointed to several instances in which Trump appeared to fight sleep, with drooping eyelids visible in the Oval Office and at a cabinet meeting.
Rhetoric, Polls And Policy
Critics cite rambling speeches, abrupt topic shifts and social-media posts as evidence of cognitive decline, though others argue some traits reflect personal style rather than age alone. Reed Galen, president of the pro-democracy coalition The Union, said: “Whereas Biden got older and got quieter, Trump gets older and gets louder — when he’s awake.”
A New York Times analysis found Trump has held fewer public events and travelled domestically less than at a comparable point in his first year in office, though he is taking more overseas trips. Trump responded on social media by listing accomplishments and saying he remains the hardest-working president; he also said he underwent “long, thorough and very boring” medical exams and “ACED” three cognitive tests.
Economic indicators during Trump’s second term show job growth slowing, unemployment rising to a four-year high and consumer prices remaining elevated — trends critics attribute in part to tariffs and other policy choices. In a 90-minute address, Trump dismissed concerns about “affordability” as a Democratic “hoax,” while acknowledging prices are high but insisting wages and the broader economy are strong.
Polling offers a mixed picture: a Reuters/Ipsos survey put Trump’s overall approval at 41% while just 31% approved of his handling of the cost of living. Democrats scored wins in recent state and city races where voters cited affordability as a top concern, and analysts warn that underestimating inflation’s political potency could carry costs for Republicans in midterms and beyond.
“One of the oddest political dynamics we’re seeing today is that Donald Trump appears to be repeating Joe Biden’s mistake and underestimating the potency of inflation,” said Larry Jacobs of the University of Minnesota. He warned that relying on speeches alone may not shift voters’ economic perceptions and could produce political consequences similar to those Biden faced.
As both presidents face intensified scrutiny over age, health and economic stewardship, Republicans will likely confront the same standards they applied to Biden — and voters will judge whether rhetoric or results matter more at the ballot box.
