US Election 2020: age of Donald Trump and Joe Biden and how old they are compared to the oldest president in US history

Donald Trump and Joe Biden are the two oldest presidential candidates in US history (Getty Images)

When the US goes to the polls in November, voters young and old will choose between the two oldest presidential candidates in the country’s history.

The issue of age has already been weaponised by the Trump campaign, labelling Joe Biden a dotty, “sleepy”, past-his-best politician despite being just three years the current president’s senior.

Questions over both candidates’ stamina and suitability for the highest office will likely continue until polling day, but just how do the pair of candidates compare to previous US leaders?

How old is Joe Biden?

Joe Biden, who became a senator in 1973 is 77 years old.

If he was to win the election he would assume the office as a 78-year-old, with his birthday set to take place a short time after polling day on November 20.

Again, if Biden was able to win the electoral college battle over rival Donald Trump he would be 82 by the end of his first term. If he was to run for a second term he would be 86 by the time 2028 came around.

Many, however, suspect that Joe Biden would serve just one term as US president if he were to emerge victorious on the morning of November 4.

How old is Donald Trump?

Donald Trump turned 74 years old on June 14 earlier this year.

When Donald Trump was inaugurated in 2016 he became the oldest president to assume the presidency.

If he was to successfully claim a second term he would leave the White House as a 78-year-old.

Who is the oldest president in US history?

Though Donald Trump is the oldest candidate to assume the presidency, the dubious honour of the oldest US president at retirement goes to Ronald Reagan.

The Republican was 77 years and 349 days old when he departed the United States’ highest office in 1989.

This means that Joe Biden will be the oldest US president in history on entering the office, while Trump would be the oldest by the conclusion of his second term.

What about the youngest?

Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest president to enter the White House when he was elected in 1901 at the age of 42 years and 322 days.

Following his assassination John F Kennedy was just 46 years old, making him the youngest president at the conclusion of their tenure.

What has Trump said about Joe Biden’s age?

It’s unsurprising that President Trump has targeted Joe Biden’s age given that he questioned the stamina of 2016 Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

The uncomplimentary moniker “Sleepy Joe” has been his go-to jibe, though he has been happy to deliver blows further below the belt.

During an interview with Fox News host Chris Wallace in July he described Biden as "mentally shot”, and accused the 77-year-old of not being able to “put two sentences together".

The president concluded "he's not competent to be President."

Biden has always been swift to bat away suggestions that he is too old to run for office.

When he emerged as the frontrunner for the democratic candidacy in September 2019 he was asked about concerns over his age, to which he replied: "What the hell concerns? You wanna wrestle?"