US presidential candidates should take mental competency test: Trump

WASHINGTON

All US presidential candidates should take a mental competency test for the 2024 race, former President Donald Trump said on Tuesday.

"ANYBODY running for the Office of President of the United States should agree to take a full & complete Mental Competency Test simultaneously (or before!) with the announcement that he or she is running, & likewise, but to a somewhat lesser extent, agree to a test which would prove that you are physically capable of doing the job," Trump, the 45th president of the US, said on his social media platform Truth Social.

"Being an outstanding President requires great mental acuity & physical stamina. If you don’t have these qualities or traits, it is likely you won’t succeed. MAGA!" the 76-year-old added.

His remarks come after Republican Nikki Haley, who kicked off her presidential campaign last week in the US state of South Carolina, floated the idea of mandatory competency tests for politicians older than 75.

US President Joe Biden is 80 years old, meaning he would be 82 if he decides to run for a second presidential term in 2024.