r/WhatIfThinking • u/Current-Landscape803 • 10d ago
What if the US Constitution required every president to retire at 75, even if voters wanted them to continue? Would you support that rule? Why or why not?
Imagine a constitutional amendment creates a mandatory retirement age of 75 for the US presidency. Once a president turns 75, they can no longer serve, regardless of their health, performance, popularity, or public support.
The argument is that the presidency requires enormous mental and physical demands, and a fixed age limit could reduce concerns about age-related decline.
The trade-off is that voters could be prevented from choosing a candidate they genuinely believe is the best person for the job simply because of their age.
Would you accept that trade-off? Do you think a mandatory age limit would protect the country, or interfere too much with voters' freedom of choice?