Trump's Policies Depend on a 91-Year-Old's Decisions
As scrutiny intensifies on the gerontocracy, Chuck Grassley plays a vital role as the Senate Judiciary chair and a significant GOP gatekeeper.
TroibNews 
The essence of President Donald Trump’s agenda is interwoven with Chuck Grassley, a 91-year-old Senate Judiciary chair who has spent more time in the Senate than Trump’s vice president has been alive. Grassley is central to Trump’s efforts on a range of issues, from reshaping the immigration system to dismantling the so-called "deep state" and ensuring conservative dominance in federal courts. However, this reliance could prove precarious: interviews with a dozen lawmakers, lobbyists, and other current and former GOP officials reveal that some Republicans express private concerns about Grassley’s age for a role so vital to executing Trump’s agenda.
Grassley has been in the national limelight before, but his current position comes at a time when public perception of aging politicians is shifting. This change was highlighted by questions surrounding former President Joe Biden's mental fitness before leaving the White House and the recent disclosure that former Rep. Kay Granger had lived with dementia during her last term. Additionally, the mental and physical decline of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein has brought similar concerns to the forefront.
Despite these issues, Grassley recently managed a nearly six-hour hearing for Trump’s attorney general nominee, Pam Bondi, without significant incident, aside from a momentary misunderstanding of a joke made by her.
“Doesn’t that answer your question?” Grassley responded when asked about whether his age posed a barrier to his duties in a post-hearing interview. He believes he retains voter support, citing his substantial margin in winning an eighth Senate term in 2022, even in light of age-related inquiries. “We’ve got freedom of speech in this country,” he noted. “But the voters speak, and I won by 13 percent or maybe 12 percent … Isn’t age just a number?”
As the Senate’s only nonagenarian in such a pivotal role, Grassley is now under renewed scrutiny. Acting as president pro tempore, he is next in line for the presidency, following Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance.
Some Republicans associated with the Judiciary Committee are pondering the implications if Grassley's health were to decline, as it did for Granger and Feinstein, drawing historical parallels to former Senators Strom Thurmond and Thad Cochran. While they recognize Grassley’s current capabilities, there is concern about the health vulnerabilities inherent to any 91-year-old, particularly with Trump’s domestic policy agenda at stake. “Statistically speaking, he could kick the bucket at any moment — like, what happens then?” a Republican aide remarked, specifically referencing the committee's jurisdiction over immigration issues. “And will there be disruption to the Trump agenda? … That takes stamina that you could say a 91-year-old doesn’t have.”
Grassley acknowledges the growing relevance of age-related questions, especially in light of Biden's age controversies that intensified following poor debate performances. He has skillfully sidestepped commenting on Biden's age due to its implications. “Wouldn't you think it’d be intellectually dishonest for me, at 91 years of age, to say Biden was too old to be president?” he asked. “With just three years difference, you could say the same thing about Trump. But you can obviously see that Trump has got enough vigor, vigorous enough to be an outstanding president, and it’s the same for Chuck Grassley to be a senator.”
Similar to Biden, Grassley has a light-hearted approach to discussions about age; during an interview, he playfully questioned the age of his questioner and made facetious comments implying she was too young for her job. His responses challenge anyone to judge his competence based on his performance.
Aside from overseeing a grueling Bondi hearing, Grassley recalled leading intense sessions during the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. Nearly six years later, he shows little change. Although he has recuperated from hip surgery for a fracture in 2023, a health incident in early 2024, when he was hospitalized for an infection, raises concerns about the uncertainty of his health in the future.
In discussions regarding his decision to run for reelection in 2022, Grassley shared that he consulted with his wife and children, with some expressing their belief that he should retire. However, they later urged him to run again, citing the country’s condition. Upcoming contentious hearings, including those for FBI Director nominee Kash Patel and potential replacements for Supreme Court justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, will serve as tests of his capability to lead the committee.
As of now, no Senate colleagues have publicly questioned his ability to fulfill his role. Neither party benefits from questioning the age of their opponents, considering many leaders are themselves septuagenarians and octogenarians. For instance, the committee’s ranking member, Sen. Dick Durbin, is 80, and Republicans rallied around Mitch McConnell, now 82, after he faced health issues.
“When the world ends and hell freezes over, there will be three things left: Chuck Grassley, Mitch McConnell, and cockroaches,” remarked Sen. John Kennedy, a Judiciary member, who added that Grassley “pisses excellence and experience.”
Meanwhile, Grassley’s connections with powerful allies seem to fortify his influence. Lobbyist Bryan Lanza, who worked with Trump, notes there is no reason to doubt Grassley’s capabilities. He suggested that Grassley’s age could even be advantageous, as he is not burdened with thoughts of his next election. “Is he running a marathon? No,” Lanza remarked. “We don’t need his legs, we need his mind.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, another Judiciary Committee member, pointed to Grassley’s well-known morning runs as evidence of his fitness. Yet Grassley himself acknowledged that his running regimen has changed; he now shuffles two miles six times a week instead of three, and he opted for a day off due to cold weather. “You aren’t 91 years old,” he quipped, asking for leniency in judgment.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
Grassley has been in the national limelight before, but his current position comes at a time when public perception of aging politicians is shifting. This change was highlighted by questions surrounding former President Joe Biden's mental fitness before leaving the White House and the recent disclosure that former Rep. Kay Granger had lived with dementia during her last term. Additionally, the mental and physical decline of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein has brought similar concerns to the forefront.
Despite these issues, Grassley recently managed a nearly six-hour hearing for Trump’s attorney general nominee, Pam Bondi, without significant incident, aside from a momentary misunderstanding of a joke made by her.
“Doesn’t that answer your question?” Grassley responded when asked about whether his age posed a barrier to his duties in a post-hearing interview. He believes he retains voter support, citing his substantial margin in winning an eighth Senate term in 2022, even in light of age-related inquiries. “We’ve got freedom of speech in this country,” he noted. “But the voters speak, and I won by 13 percent or maybe 12 percent … Isn’t age just a number?”
As the Senate’s only nonagenarian in such a pivotal role, Grassley is now under renewed scrutiny. Acting as president pro tempore, he is next in line for the presidency, following Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance.
Some Republicans associated with the Judiciary Committee are pondering the implications if Grassley's health were to decline, as it did for Granger and Feinstein, drawing historical parallels to former Senators Strom Thurmond and Thad Cochran. While they recognize Grassley’s current capabilities, there is concern about the health vulnerabilities inherent to any 91-year-old, particularly with Trump’s domestic policy agenda at stake. “Statistically speaking, he could kick the bucket at any moment — like, what happens then?” a Republican aide remarked, specifically referencing the committee's jurisdiction over immigration issues. “And will there be disruption to the Trump agenda? … That takes stamina that you could say a 91-year-old doesn’t have.”
Grassley acknowledges the growing relevance of age-related questions, especially in light of Biden's age controversies that intensified following poor debate performances. He has skillfully sidestepped commenting on Biden's age due to its implications. “Wouldn't you think it’d be intellectually dishonest for me, at 91 years of age, to say Biden was too old to be president?” he asked. “With just three years difference, you could say the same thing about Trump. But you can obviously see that Trump has got enough vigor, vigorous enough to be an outstanding president, and it’s the same for Chuck Grassley to be a senator.”
Similar to Biden, Grassley has a light-hearted approach to discussions about age; during an interview, he playfully questioned the age of his questioner and made facetious comments implying she was too young for her job. His responses challenge anyone to judge his competence based on his performance.
Aside from overseeing a grueling Bondi hearing, Grassley recalled leading intense sessions during the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. Nearly six years later, he shows little change. Although he has recuperated from hip surgery for a fracture in 2023, a health incident in early 2024, when he was hospitalized for an infection, raises concerns about the uncertainty of his health in the future.
In discussions regarding his decision to run for reelection in 2022, Grassley shared that he consulted with his wife and children, with some expressing their belief that he should retire. However, they later urged him to run again, citing the country’s condition. Upcoming contentious hearings, including those for FBI Director nominee Kash Patel and potential replacements for Supreme Court justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, will serve as tests of his capability to lead the committee.
As of now, no Senate colleagues have publicly questioned his ability to fulfill his role. Neither party benefits from questioning the age of their opponents, considering many leaders are themselves septuagenarians and octogenarians. For instance, the committee’s ranking member, Sen. Dick Durbin, is 80, and Republicans rallied around Mitch McConnell, now 82, after he faced health issues.
“When the world ends and hell freezes over, there will be three things left: Chuck Grassley, Mitch McConnell, and cockroaches,” remarked Sen. John Kennedy, a Judiciary member, who added that Grassley “pisses excellence and experience.”
Meanwhile, Grassley’s connections with powerful allies seem to fortify his influence. Lobbyist Bryan Lanza, who worked with Trump, notes there is no reason to doubt Grassley’s capabilities. He suggested that Grassley’s age could even be advantageous, as he is not burdened with thoughts of his next election. “Is he running a marathon? No,” Lanza remarked. “We don’t need his legs, we need his mind.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, another Judiciary Committee member, pointed to Grassley’s well-known morning runs as evidence of his fitness. Yet Grassley himself acknowledged that his running regimen has changed; he now shuffles two miles six times a week instead of three, and he opted for a day off due to cold weather. “You aren’t 91 years old,” he quipped, asking for leniency in judgment.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
