Haley calls for US politicians over 75 to face 'mental competency tests'

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who has recently announced to run for the Republican nomination, has called for mandatory “mental competency tests” for politicians older than 75.

During a speech launching her 2024 presidential campaign in Charleston, South Carolina on Wednesday, the 51-year-old targeted both Joe Biden and Donald Trump, who are 80 and 76 years old, respectively.

“In the America I see, the permanent politician will finally retire,” said Haley, who served as US ambassador to the United Nations under Trump’s presidency. “We’ll have term limits for Congress. And mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old.”

Haley's proposal comes as voters on both sides of the aisle have expressed frustration with aged American politicians.

In November, Biden, the oldest man to run the country, referred to Cambodia as "Colombia" at an international summit in Phnom Penh led by Southeast Asian leaders, furthering concerns that the aged politician was suffering from a cognitive disorder.

Biden's repeated verbal stumbles and tendency to meander off script during live appearances have been seized on by Republicans as proof he's too old for the White House.

Independent observers have warned that it is very dangerous that a man with “serious disturbances in cognition” has his hand on the nuclear button.

They have called for a mental health review of Biden under the 25th Amendment, the amendment of the US Constitution that deals with situations where the president or vice-president are unable to fulfill the duties of the office.

Is it Biden's time for a mental health review under the 25th Amendment?

Joe Biden has referred to Cambodia as Colombia, furthering concerns that the aged politician is suffering from a cognitive disorder.

On Thursday, Haley said she sees “no reason to believe” that Trump would not perform well on the mental competency test.

“I think he did great the last time he did it. I have no reason to think he wouldn’t do well this time. But I do think we need it,” Haley said in an interview on Fox News.

Trump touted his success on a cognitive test during the 2020 presidential election.

“It was 30 or 35 questions. The first questions are very easy. The last questions are much more difficult. Like a memory question,” Trump told Fox News at the time. “It’s like, you’ll go, ‘Person, woman, man, camera, TV.’ So they say, ‘Could you repeat that?’ So I said, ‘Yeah.’ So it’s, ‘Person, woman, man, camera, TV.’ OK, that’s very good. If you get it in order, you get extra points.”

In her speech on Wednesday, Haley emphasized that "it's time for a new generation of leadership."

“We’re ready. Ready to move past the stale ideas and faded names of the past, and we are more than ready for a new generation to lead us into the future,” she told the crowd gathered in Charleston.

“America is not past our prime,” she added. “It’s just that our politicians are past theirs,” she added.

Also in the past, Haley suggested that aged politicians in the US government should undergo a "cognitive test."

In an appearance later on Wednesday on Fox News, Haley called for generational changes when asked what differentiates her from Trump.

She was asked where she and Trump hold differences on issues.

“Look at everything that’s wrong in this country and tell me we don’t need new leadership,” she responded. “But the difference is we need new generational leadership. We have to leave the status quo. We have to leave this chaos behind and we’ve gotta start talking about the future.”

Haley announced her bid on Tuesday, becoming the first Republican to formally challenge Trump in the GOP primary.

Haley on Wednesday took aim at Biden.

“What I am saying is I don’t kick sideways,” she said. “I’m kicking forward. Joe Biden is the president. He’s the one I’m running against.”

Trump said in an interview with Fox News that he is “glad” Haley is running for the GOP nomination.

“I’m glad she’s running,” Trump said. “I want her to follow her heart — even though she made a commitment that she would never run against who she called the greatest president of her lifetime.”

Analyst: Haley's entrance is the political death knell of Trump

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley

American political analyst and activist Myles Hoenig told Press TV on Tuesday that “Haley’s announcement to run for President in 2024 is a game changer. Her politics are nothing new to Republicans and in ‘normal’ times her presence would be seen as an ‘also ran.’”

“What’s different now is that this is the first formal break from the hold Trump has on the party. Very few dared to challenge him in 2024 yet so many so dearly want to. They all know that Trump’s time, his 15 minutes of fame, is over, but all too cowardly to take the leap,” he stated.

“This is likely the political death knell for Donald Trump,” he stated.

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