Biden quips he is 'young, energetic, and handsome' in $30 million ad campaign
Evelyn Hockstein/REUTERS
- Joe Biden has launched a $30 million ad campaign where he makes light of the concerns over his age.
- He jokes about his age, as he did during Thursday's State of the Union address.
- The president highlights his accomplishments as president and attacks Donald Trump.
Joe Biden pokes fun at concerns about his age in a new $30 million TV and digital ad blitz.
At 81, Biden is the oldest serving president in the nation's history, and his age is proving to be an obstacle as the 2024 election nears. A recent New York Times-Siena College poll found that even 61% of his 2020 voters thought he was now "just too old."
"Look, I'm not a young guy— that's no secret," Biden says at the start of the new Biden-Harris 2024 campaign ad titled "For You."
"But here's the deal— I know how to get things done for the American people," he continues.
Republican frontrunner and former president Donald Trump is running for reelection aged 77.
Hillary Clinton, who was Trump's Democratic opponent in 2016, criticized the emphasis on Biden's age over Trump's. "Joe Biden and Donald Trump are effectively the same age. Let's use that as a baseline," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
When you're lucky to live into your seventies or eighties, the difference of a few years doesn't matter all that much. Joe Biden and Donald Trump are effectively the same age. Let's use that as a baseline.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 6, 2024
So this week, it's become clear the choice for this November is between… pic.twitter.com/el65gxRT1M
In the ad, Biden highlights his accomplishments and says, "Now we're rebuilding America."
He also jibes at his top opponent, calling Trump out for failing to pass an infrastructure law as president, which Biden later successfully passed.
"Donald Trump believes the job of the president is to take care of Donald Trump— I believe the job of the American president is to fight for you, the american people— and that's what I'm doing," he says.
"I'm Joe Biden, and I approve this message," he declares.
"Can we do one more take?" a voice asks toward the end before the camera refocuses on Biden.
"Look, I'm very young, energetic, and handsome— what the hell am I doing this for?" quips Biden.
The 60-second ad will run for six weeks on various networks, including ESPN, TNT, Comedy Central, and FX, targeting key swing states.
Biden used self-effacing humor similarly during his State of the Union remarks.
"I know it may not look like it, but I've been around a while," Biden joked during his address on Thursday night.