Jill Biden says it’s ‘ridiculous’ Nikki Haley wants mandatory mental competency tests

Jill Biden is pushing back GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley, 51, for proposing that all politicians over the age of 75 must take a mental competency test to be eligible to run for public office.

That’s what the first lady told CNN that her husband, who would be 82 at the time of inauguration if elected to a second term, “would never discuss” taking such a test.

President Joe Biden, 80, has come under fire since taking office for his increase in verbal and physical clumsiness — leading to speculation that he is physically and/or mentally unfit for the presidency.

Haley, a Trump ambassador to the UN and former governor of South Carolina, said she thinks older politicians should take a mental competence test to avoid speculation like this in the future.

“Ridiculous,” the first lady said in response to the proposal during an interview with CNN, which will air Monday night as part of a “Jill Biden Abroad” special.

President Joe Biden is 80 years old and former President Donald Trump is 76. Under the proposal, they must both undergo cognitive tests to ensure they are mentally fit to run for president

“We would never even discuss something like that,” she added when asked if her husband would consider taking such a test.

How many 30-year-olds can travel to Poland, get on the train? Nine more hours, to Ukraine, meet President (Volodymyr) Zelensky?’ Jill said to prove her husband’s stamina and fitness for the demands of the presidency.

So, look at the man. Look what he’s doing. Look what he keeps doing every day.’

Some have attacked Haley for her proposal, pointing specifically to the fact that she has reached the age of 75 while the leading GOP presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, is 76.

Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, called it “absurd” and condemned the proposal as “ageist.”

“You know, we’re fighting racism, we’re fighting sexism, we’re fighting homophobia, I think we’re also fighting ageism,” Sanders told Margaret Brennan on Sunday during an interview with CBS’ Face the Nation.

“Trust people, look at people and say, you know, this person is competent, this person is not competent,” Sander continued. “There are a lot of 40-year-olds who aren’t particularly skilled.”

“Older people, you know, you look at the individual, I don’t think you’re making a blanket statement.”

Biden has not yet announced whether he will run for re-election in 2024, but has repeatedly hinted that he plans to run alongside Vice President Kamala Harris.

Presidential candidate Nikki Haley came up with the idea, claiming that older politicians should be required to undergo mental aptitude testing to ensure they are fit for office.

Jill says she supports her husband in seeking a second term, but also said it’s up to him.

“It’s Joe’s decision,” she said. “And we support whatever he wants to do. When he’s in, we’re there. If he wants to do something else, we’re there too.’

Biden had a cancerous skin lesion removed from his chest last month during his annual physical exam at Walter Reed Medical Center.

The biopsy confirmed that the small lesion was basal cell carcinoma. All cancerous tissue has been successfully removed,” White House physician Kevin O’Connor wrote in a memo Friday.

He said no further treatment is needed, but he will continue to have regular skin exams as part of his ongoing health care.