During Thursday night’s Democratic presidential primary debate in Houston, former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro attacked former Vice President Joe Biden over his health care plan, saying that it would leave many Americans uninsured.
“The difference between what I support and what you support, Vice President Biden, is that you require them to opt in, and I would not require them to opt in. They would automatically be enrolled, they wouldn’t have to buy in,” Castro said to Biden.
“You do not have to buy in,” Biden responds.
“Are you forgetting what you said two minutes ago,” continues Castro. “Are you forgetting already what you said just two minutes ago? I can’t believe that you said two minutes ago that they had to buy in, and now you’re saying they don’t have to — you’re forgetting that.”
Immediately after the exchange, the internet reacted with a mixture of humor and shock. Trevor Noah, the host of The Daily Show, tweeted a clip of the exchange with the caption, “Achievement Unlocked: Elder Abuse.”
Daily Wire Editor-at-Large Josh Hammer tweeted: “Castro straight-up accusing Biden of senility. Wow.”
Allie Beth Stuckey, host of the “Relatable” podcast, tweeted: “Castro with the dementia joke. Yikes.”
The exchange comes as many Americans have expressed concerns about electing candidates they believe to be “too old” to be president. According to a survey conducted by StudyFinds.org, the average American believes that 72 years old is too old to be running the country.
As the Washington Examiner reported last month, the survey concluded that the “average ideal age” for a president would be 48 years old. Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke, who is currently polling in the low single digits, would be the closest candidate to that age, the news agency notes.
According to a Gallup poll released last May, only 63% of Americans said they would vote for a “well-qualified person for president who happened to be” over the age of 70. For comparison, the poll says that 60% of Americans would be willing to vote for an atheist and 47% would be willing to vote for a socialist. If Biden were elected president, he would take office at age 78.