(Non-political thread - trying to keep politics out of this)
I know we have quite a few Dopers here who are 78 years old, or are older than Trump himself.
Whatever you may think of the guy, he seems to be indefatigable. Traveling all over for rallies, speaking in public all the time, jetting everywhere, etc., often on packed schedules and little sleep. And he doesn’t eat healthy either; his love of burgers, red meat, McDonald’s, steak, is well known. And even if his jet is a luxury jet, flying itself still takes a heavy toll on the body and psyche. The only exercise he seems to do is incidental walking, the walking he must do in the course of campaign events (although walking is still meaningful exercise.)
Is the average 78-year old American capable of this pace and schedule? Where is this energy coming from? Is Trump above-average in health? Why isn’t he getting diabetes, colon cancer, etc.?
Also, mentally speaking, does Trump seem duller, equal to, or sharper than the average 78-year old?
The thread also could apply to Biden as well, so if someone wants to comment about Biden’s health at his age, welcome.
We don’t have access to Trump’s medical records, so who knows what health problems he might have? Trump looks rough. He looks tired. He’s not as energetic as he was in 2020 let alone 2016. He’s an old, dottering fool and looks like it when he’s speaking at a rally. Or anywhere else for that matter.
My Dad is 86 with congestive heart failure and Afib. He’s doing social events 5 days a week including opera, theatre and parties. I (56yo) get exhausted just thing about it. Yes, he naps.
What’s more, it’s very likely that what has been publicly said about his health, such as the results of the annual physicals he underwent as president, underwent significant spin before being released. Despite the fact that it’s pretty clear to anyone who has eyes that he is overweight, and is known to have a poor diet, the publicly-released results of his physicals were, to be charitable, generous.
Trump’s ego can’t deal with the idea that he is nothing less than the epitome of physical perfection, and he’ll never let anyone who works for him say otherwise.
You can be an overweight 78-year old and still keep up a busy schedule. Trump doesn’t seem to be as troubled by arthritis as Biden appears. On the negative side, his speaking is getting less energetic and more rambling every time he appears in public. My guess is by the time he’s Biden’s age he’ll walk up to the podium reasonably energetically and then no one will be able to make out a single word he says.
We don’t actually know what medical problems Trump does or doesn’t have - you can’t tell if someone has diabetes or colon cancer or heart disease by looking at them. But I wouldn’t say he’s anything close to indefatigable - and I don’t think I necessarily agree that flying in itself takes a toll on the body and psyche. Flying in an economy seat takes a toll on the body but he’s not doing that. As far as sleep, many older people sleep less than they used to. It’s not like he gets 5 hours of sleep a night because he’s working 16 hours a day. His rallies last about 2 hours or maybe a little more which is not that long a time. As far as the average 78 year old , who knows what the average 78 year old does ? When my grandfather was 78 , I remember commenting that he had a more active social life than I did - and I was 25 at the time. My 84 year old mother and her friends are out at least 3 times a week.
And being on stage at the center of attention tires some people out ( I’d be exhausted if I had to speak in front of a group for two hours ) , it energizes other people. .
I once saw an online video, likely at YouTube, that was a tour of Trump’s private aircraft. It was conducted by the plane’s flight attendant. The video tour was interesting, but he’s definitely not travelling in an economy seat. There are nice seating options, and even a bedroom, so he can nap in bed if he wishes.
I think by 78 there is an enormous range of health and energy levels. Trump does not seem out of line for what i expect from 78 year olds. He certainly does more speeches than most, walks less than many, and appears to have mental decline that is common (but by no means universal) at that age.
Not drinking or drugging in his younger days does have its benifits, many 78 year olds are paying the price for that. So he is ahead of many people his own age.
He has been rich his entire life, so none of the physical injuries plaguing many older people. He golfs for exercise, just standing up and his limited walking around the course is an activity. He probably gets in 7500 steps a day on a regular basis.
No signs of hereditary diabetes in his family, so most likley not an uncontrolled diabetic. And he has private doctors. This may actuality be one of the times his bragging of having the best people is true.
His issue appear to be mental. That and maybe high blood pressure and high cholesterol controlled by meds, like many older Americans.
Agreed, based on numerous photos of him out on his golf courses. I suspect that his walking while golfing is about as minimal as it can be: a dozen or so steps from his cart to the tee or fairway, then back again after hitting the ball, and then dozens of steps once he’s on the green (since driving a cart onto the green is generally forbidden).
I very much doubt that he walks a course, or that he’s done so since he was younger (if ever).
My Daddy died at 86. Dropped dead from a brain aneurysm. No fuss, no muss.
Just how he lived.
He was active to the day he died. Gardening, running his business, drinking his beer, dancing, dating and going to the track (horse racing) everyday.
Smart, clever and sharp.
I worried about one thing later in his life. He drove too much. And he was a careless driver. I just knew that would get him.
Miss that man.
Trump is not nearly as animated or smart. He stumbles over words.
If you watch he clings to the podium as if holding himself straight upright.
When he walks off he hangs his head like he’s watching his footing. And toe walks. Signs of leg/foot problems.
It’s widely believed that he wears shoes with lifts in them, to appear a few inches taller; that may contribute to a need to be careful with one’s footing.
The U.S. presidency is said to take a toll on the people who hold it. Clinton and Obama emerged from their time in office visibly aged, beyond just what eight years should look like. That makes sense. It’s a very stressful job, making decisions that will affect hundreds of millions of people.
I didn’t see that with Trump. I don’t see any sign that he cared whether his choices on COVID, tariffs, taxation, diplomacy, or anything else were really in the best interests of his constituents. That’s nothing new. He didn’t care about the success of his casinos, his university, or anything else. He is about building his brand, getting his name in the media, and the size of the crowds at his rallies.
That’s why you think Trump is indefatigable. For people like you and me, holding these sorts of rallies woud be draining. For Trump, they are rejuvenating. He needs the attention of crowds the way most of us need sleep.
He’s not packing his own suitcase, calling an Uber, checking traffic, waiting in the security line, sitting in a middle seat, waiting at the rental car counter, and trying to find his own way to the next event. He has a convoy of SUVs with drivers, a police escort, and his plane won’t take off without him.
Remember his lengthy court appearances? He’d constantly be dozing off. Literally couldn’t stay awake.
The best that can be said for Trump’s physical condition is that he doesn’t have any obvious physical disabilities, and despite being flabby and overweight due to a terrible diet and lifestyle, is probably doing better than average for his age.
His mental acuity, though, is something else again. Never the sharpest knife in the drawer to begin with, the mental deterioration with age seems to have made him irrational, angry, and often incoherent, often sounding more like a homeless bum on a street corner than a politician campaigning for national office.
BTW, I’m not saying this just because I despise Trump. Irrational, unprovoked anger is often a genuine marker of serious mental decline.