New Poll: Has Donald Trump Lost His Balance with Age?

A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that six in ten Americans, including a large number of Republicans, believe that President Donald Trump has become erratic as he ages.

The poll, which lasted for six days, concluded on Monday, February 24, 2026, just a day before Trump, who is 79 years old, delivers his annual State of the Union address to Congress, following a month of repeated rebukes from lawmakers and judges.

* Poll Details

61% of participants described President Trump as "becoming erratic with age," including:

• 89% of Democrats

•30% of Republicans

• 64% of Independents

White House spokesperson Davis Engel stated that the poll results reflect "false and desperate narratives," praising Trump’s "sharp mind and unmatched energy and historical accessibility," compared to his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump's overall popularity has not changed much over the past months, with about 40% expressing satisfaction with his performance, up two points from the beginning of the month, compared to 47% at the start of his second term in January 2025.

* Aging American Leadership

The poll showed that most Americans see political leadership in Washington as aging:

• 79% supported the statement that "elected officials in Washington are too old to represent most Americans."

• The average age of Senators: 64 years, and House members: 58 years.

• 58% of Democrats considered Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (75 years old) too old for the position.

* Age and Politics

Trump took office for a second term in January 2025 at the age of 78, becoming the oldest president in U.S. history on his inauguration day, and is on track to break the record of his predecessor Joe Biden, who finished his term at the age of 82.

Since then, Trump has announced new policies and initiatives at a rapid pace, including imposing tariffs on imports from dozens of countries and deploying masked federal officers to combat illegal immigration.

* Mental Capacity Assessment

• 45% of participants only described Trump as "smart and capable of handling challenges," compared to 54% in September 2023.

• Republicans: 81% still see the president as smart, a similar percentage to the 2023 poll.

• Democrats: the percentage dropped from 29% to 19% who see him as capable of facing challenges.

• Independents: 36% see Trump as smart, down from 53% in 2023.

The poll involved 4,638 adults across the United States and was conducted online, with a margin of error of two percentage points.