First lady Jill Biden dismissed statements made by Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley who called for politicians over the age of 75 to undergo mental capacity tests, according to reports.
CNN reported that in an interview set to air on the network Monday night, the first lady called the proposal ridiculous, and when asked if the president would consider taking a mental capacity test if elected, she said, “We would never even discuss something like that.”
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden (Jacob King / Pool Photo via AP / File)
Haley, 51, threw her name into the ring as a Republican presidential candidate last month and made headlines after calling for “mental competency tests” for politicians over the age of 75.
NIKKI HALEY CALLS FOR POLITICIANS OVER 75 TO FACE ‘MENTAL COMPETENCY TESTS’
President Joe Biden turned 80 in November and former President Trump, also a candidate for president this go-round, is 76.
A Fox News Poll conducted in late February found that, overall, 77% of Americans favor requiring such tests, with 83% of millennials, 84% of GenXers and 66% of Baby Boomers supporting the idea.
Nikki Haley visits “Hannity” at Fox News Channel Studios on Jan. 20, 2023, in New York City. (Theo Wargo / Getty Images)
The study also found that 87% of Republicans, 74% of Independents and 67% of Democrats surveyed favor the mental capacity tests.
PENCE DISAGREES WITH HALEY ON COMPETENCY TESTS: ‘AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN SORT THAT OUT’
Still, the first lady rejected the idea of the tests when interviewed by CNN.
“How many 30-year-olds could travel to Poland, get on the train, go nine more hours, go to Ukraine, meet with President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy?” she asked the news network. “So, look at the man. Look at what he’s doing. Look at what he continues to do each and every day.”
The first lady is not the first to reject Haley’s proposal and likely will not be the last.
In fact, former Vice President Mike Pence disagreed with the presidential hopeful’s proposal in an interview with CBS last week.
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“I come from southern Indiana where people think most politicians should have a competency test,” Pence, 63, joked. “No, I think the American people can sort that out. I really do.”
