Maxine Waters Deflects Calls for Age Limits, Says Voters Should Judge

Rep. Maxine Waters, a California Democrat who is 87, declined to directly say whether there is an age at which elected officials become too old to serve during a brief exchange with a reporter outside the U.S. Capitol, instead arguing that voters and lawmakers should focus on effectiveness rather than age. The exchange occurred as Waters was walking into the Capitol after speaking at a Working Families press conference.

Jacob Wasserman, the reporter, raised concerns commonly voiced by younger voters about aging political leaders and asked whether Congress should consider age restrictions. Waters initially did not answer the question directly, saying she typically does not hold press interactions while walking, before shifting to a framework centered on performance. She said the way people should judge elected officials is to consider what they do and what can be documented, adding, “What do they do? What can you document? What can you give them credit for? What can you criticize them for?”

When Wasserman pressed again, including by referencing President Donald Trump, who is nearing 80, Waters did not endorse an age cap or provide a clear threshold. Instead, she pivoted to...