In a recent appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Patti Davis, daughter of former President Ronald Reagan, engaged in a discussion regarding the age issue in the upcoming 2024 election. Davis suggested that candidates for the highest office should undergo cognitive tests, stating, “Probably, yeah. And just what we know about what age can do, it doesn’t always do that, but it would probably be a good idea.”
Patti Davis, the daughter of Ronald Reagan, endorsed the idea of cognitive tests for presidential candidates on #MTP.
When Reagan was elected at 69, he was the oldest person ever to be elected president. pic.twitter.com/j8ztXbNRNi— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) February 19, 2024
Reflecting on her father’s presidency, Davis pointed out, “He was 77 when he left office after two terms, and it seems so young now, doesn’t it?” She emphasized that despite his age, Reagan demonstrated remarkable vigor, citing his iconic moment at the Berlin Wall as evidence: “That was not someone who was fractured in age.”
When asked about Reagan’s potential message to present-day politicians, Davis highlighted her father’s emphasis on seeing others as human beings. She lamented the current state of politics, stating, “He didn’t understand lack of civility. He didn’t understand attacking another person.” Davis expressed concern about the divisive nature of contemporary politics, attributing it to underlying fears within society.
Moreover, Davis’s sentiments resonated with GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s call for cognitive assessments for candidates Biden and Trump. Haley, who is flailing in the polls and has virtually no way of obtaining the nomination for GOP candidate, stressed the importance of ensuring candidates are fully capable of handling critical decisions, particularly those concerning national security and the economy.
