1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

Watching recent White House press conferences has been nothing short of mortifying. Instead of leadership, clarity, or authority, the country is presented with moments that spark widespread concern about whether the President is physically and cognitively capable of getting through a public appearance—let alone running the federal government. This is not strength. It is not experience. It is not stability. It is national embarrassment. The rest of the world is not ignoring this. They are laughing at us, questioning us, and adjusting their diplomacy accordingly. And Congress’s response has been to look away, pretend nothing is wrong, and hope voters are too polite—or too distracted—to say what is obvious. We cannot keep allowing geriatrics to cling to power while the country deteriorates. Cognitive decline, physical fragility, and public confusion are not personal insults; they are biological facts. Every other profession that involves high stakes recognizes this reality. Only politics refuses to acknowledge it, because too many members of Congress would disqualify themselves. That is not leadership. That is self-preservation. It is indefensible that there are age limits for renting a car but not for commanding the military, managing nuclear weapons, or negotiating on behalf of 330 million people. The refusal to impose age limits on Congress and the presidency is cowardice, plain and simple. The American people are tired of being governed by people who are visibly past their prime, struggling through speeches, and turning serious moments into viral spectacles. We deserve leaders who are mentally sharp, physically capable, and actually prepared for the demands of modern governance—not figures whose public appearances raise alarms instead of confidence. If Congress will not act on this issue, it is because you are protecting yourselves, not the country. Support mandatory age limits and fitness standards for Congress and the presidency, or admit openly that preserving your own power matters more than the dignity and functionality of the United States government. The status quo is humiliating. Your silence makes you responsible for it.