Washington's discussion on age has evolved. Has Chuck Grassley?
As the gerontocracy comes under scrutiny, the Senate Judiciary chair plays a pivotal role in shaping Donald Trump's agenda.
TroibNews 
The foundation of President Donald Trump’s agenda largely relies on the expertise of Chuck Grassley, who has served in the Senate for longer than his vice president has been alive.
At 91, Grassley, the Senate Judiciary chair, plays a pivotal role in initiatives ranging from overhauling immigration policy to dismantling what Trump refers to as the “deep state,” as well as steering conservative influence over the federal judiciary. However, some within the Republican Party are expressing private concerns about whether Grassley’s age is a hindrance to executing Trump’s agenda effectively. Insights from a dozen lawmakers, lobbyists, and past GOP officials reveal a growing unease regarding Grassley’s fitness for such a central role.
Grassley is no stranger to the spotlight in Washington, but this time, his leadership comes amid shifting public sentiment regarding older politicians, exacerbated by recent discussions surrounding former Judiciary Committee member Joe Biden’s mental acuity prior to his departure from the White House.
The political climate has also changed on Capitol Hill following reports about former Rep. Kay Granger’s struggle with dementia during her final term, as well as the physical and mental decline of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who had to step down from a potential Judiciary chair role prior to her 2023 passing.
Despite these concerns, Grassley demonstrated his competency at a recent hearing involving Trump’s attorney general nominee, where he managed a lengthy session with only minor confusion over a joke from nominee Pam Bondi.
“Doesn’t that answer your question?” Grassley remarked in a follow-up interview when asked if his age hinders his job performance.
Pointing to his strong victory margin in his 2022 Senate reelection, Grassley contended that voter support remains robust. “We’ve got freedom of speech in this country,” he stated. “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 a significant leadership position, Grassley is scrutinized more closely than ever. His role as president pro tempore places him just behind the Speaker of the House and Vice President JD Vance in the line of presidential succession.
Within the Senate Judiciary Committee, some Republicans wonder about the implications for Trump’s agenda if Grassley’s health were to deteriorate, recalling instances with Granger, Feinstein, and other aging lawmakers in the past.
While he currently seems fit, concerns linger about the health of any 91-year-old senator, especially with high-stakes decisions on the line. “Statistically speaking, he could kick the bucket at any moment — like, what happens then?" queried one Republican involved with the Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighting the potential disruption to Trump’s agenda.
Grassley acknowledges the increasing relevance of age-related discussions, especially after Biden faced similar scrutiny, driven by perceptions of declining performance.
“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?” Grassley noted. “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.”
Approaching age discussions with humor, Grassley lightheartedly remarked upon the youthfulness of his interviewer, challenging others to gauge his competence based on performance. This method mirrors Biden’s own approach, which has led to a reevaluation of his extensive career in public service.
In addition to his adept management of the Bondi hearing, Grassley underscored his capability in the pressure-filled hearings surrounding then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh back in 2018. Six years later, he remains largely unchanged despite a 2023 hip surgery for a fracture and a brief hospitalization for an infection in early 2024, underscoring the unpredictable nature of his health.
Before committing to run for another term in 2022, he sought input from his family, revealing, “A couple of my kids said, ‘I think you ought to retire,’” only to have them change their tune a year later, suggesting he run again due to the nation’s conditions.
Upcoming contentious hearings await, including for FBI Director nominee Kash Patel, as well as potential appointments for retiring Supreme Court justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. These challenging proceedings will serve as significant tests of his ability to lead the committee.
No colleagues have publicly challenged Grassley’s qualifications, and both parties generally refrain from questioning the ages of their veteran members, many of whom are in their seventies and eighties. For instance, his Democratic counterpart, Sen. Dick Durbin, is 80, and Republicans rallied around Mitch McConnell, now 82, after his public health concerns last year.
“When the world ends and hell freezes over, there will be three things left, Chuck Grassley, Mitch McConnell and cockroaches,” quipped Sen. John Kennedy, a Judiciary member, who praised Grassley’s experience.
Grassley’s robust connections with influential allies bolster his position within Trump’s circle. Andrew Ferguson, a former Grassley aide, is poised to lead the Federal Trade Commission, while Mike Davis, who assisted in Trump’s Supreme Court nominations, previously served as Grassley’s chief counsel for nominations.
Davis argues passionately that Grassley remains just as capable as ever, insisting that Grassley would not pursue his role if he believed he couldn’t fulfill it. “His only vice is ice cream,” Davis joked. The assertion that Grassley might be overlooked is dismissed; he is seen as Trump’s most prominent ally in the Senate.
Grassley’s relationships with powerful figures appear to yield benefits, as lobbyist Bryan Lanza, who worked for Trump, expressed confidence in Grassley’s ability to perform his duties. Lanza posited that Grassley’s age and his lack of personal ambitions could be advantageous, as he is focused solely on advancing Trump’s priorities.
“Is he running a marathon? No,” Lanza remarked. “We don’t need his legs, we need his mind.”
On the topic of fitness, Sen. Ted Cruz noted Grassley’s renowned morning runs as evidence of his vitality. In a more candid admission, Grassley stated that his runs have now transitioned to “shuffling,” and he has reduced his routine from three miles to two, exercising six times a week. He opted out of a morning workout on the day of the interview due to the freezing temperatures and asked for understanding regarding taking a day off: “You aren’t 91 years old,” he quipped.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
At 91, Grassley, the Senate Judiciary chair, plays a pivotal role in initiatives ranging from overhauling immigration policy to dismantling what Trump refers to as the “deep state,” as well as steering conservative influence over the federal judiciary. However, some within the Republican Party are expressing private concerns about whether Grassley’s age is a hindrance to executing Trump’s agenda effectively. Insights from a dozen lawmakers, lobbyists, and past GOP officials reveal a growing unease regarding Grassley’s fitness for such a central role.
Grassley is no stranger to the spotlight in Washington, but this time, his leadership comes amid shifting public sentiment regarding older politicians, exacerbated by recent discussions surrounding former Judiciary Committee member Joe Biden’s mental acuity prior to his departure from the White House.
The political climate has also changed on Capitol Hill following reports about former Rep. Kay Granger’s struggle with dementia during her final term, as well as the physical and mental decline of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who had to step down from a potential Judiciary chair role prior to her 2023 passing.
Despite these concerns, Grassley demonstrated his competency at a recent hearing involving Trump’s attorney general nominee, where he managed a lengthy session with only minor confusion over a joke from nominee Pam Bondi.
“Doesn’t that answer your question?” Grassley remarked in a follow-up interview when asked if his age hinders his job performance.
Pointing to his strong victory margin in his 2022 Senate reelection, Grassley contended that voter support remains robust. “We’ve got freedom of speech in this country,” he stated. “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 a significant leadership position, Grassley is scrutinized more closely than ever. His role as president pro tempore places him just behind the Speaker of the House and Vice President JD Vance in the line of presidential succession.
Within the Senate Judiciary Committee, some Republicans wonder about the implications for Trump’s agenda if Grassley’s health were to deteriorate, recalling instances with Granger, Feinstein, and other aging lawmakers in the past.
While he currently seems fit, concerns linger about the health of any 91-year-old senator, especially with high-stakes decisions on the line. “Statistically speaking, he could kick the bucket at any moment — like, what happens then?" queried one Republican involved with the Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighting the potential disruption to Trump’s agenda.
Grassley acknowledges the increasing relevance of age-related discussions, especially after Biden faced similar scrutiny, driven by perceptions of declining performance.
“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?” Grassley noted. “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.”
Approaching age discussions with humor, Grassley lightheartedly remarked upon the youthfulness of his interviewer, challenging others to gauge his competence based on performance. This method mirrors Biden’s own approach, which has led to a reevaluation of his extensive career in public service.
In addition to his adept management of the Bondi hearing, Grassley underscored his capability in the pressure-filled hearings surrounding then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh back in 2018. Six years later, he remains largely unchanged despite a 2023 hip surgery for a fracture and a brief hospitalization for an infection in early 2024, underscoring the unpredictable nature of his health.
Before committing to run for another term in 2022, he sought input from his family, revealing, “A couple of my kids said, ‘I think you ought to retire,’” only to have them change their tune a year later, suggesting he run again due to the nation’s conditions.
Upcoming contentious hearings await, including for FBI Director nominee Kash Patel, as well as potential appointments for retiring Supreme Court justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. These challenging proceedings will serve as significant tests of his ability to lead the committee.
No colleagues have publicly challenged Grassley’s qualifications, and both parties generally refrain from questioning the ages of their veteran members, many of whom are in their seventies and eighties. For instance, his Democratic counterpart, Sen. Dick Durbin, is 80, and Republicans rallied around Mitch McConnell, now 82, after his public health concerns last year.
“When the world ends and hell freezes over, there will be three things left, Chuck Grassley, Mitch McConnell and cockroaches,” quipped Sen. John Kennedy, a Judiciary member, who praised Grassley’s experience.
Grassley’s robust connections with influential allies bolster his position within Trump’s circle. Andrew Ferguson, a former Grassley aide, is poised to lead the Federal Trade Commission, while Mike Davis, who assisted in Trump’s Supreme Court nominations, previously served as Grassley’s chief counsel for nominations.
Davis argues passionately that Grassley remains just as capable as ever, insisting that Grassley would not pursue his role if he believed he couldn’t fulfill it. “His only vice is ice cream,” Davis joked. The assertion that Grassley might be overlooked is dismissed; he is seen as Trump’s most prominent ally in the Senate.
Grassley’s relationships with powerful figures appear to yield benefits, as lobbyist Bryan Lanza, who worked for Trump, expressed confidence in Grassley’s ability to perform his duties. Lanza posited that Grassley’s age and his lack of personal ambitions could be advantageous, as he is focused solely on advancing Trump’s priorities.
“Is he running a marathon? No,” Lanza remarked. “We don’t need his legs, we need his mind.”
On the topic of fitness, Sen. Ted Cruz noted Grassley’s renowned morning runs as evidence of his vitality. In a more candid admission, Grassley stated that his runs have now transitioned to “shuffling,” and he has reduced his routine from three miles to two, exercising six times a week. He opted out of a morning workout on the day of the interview due to the freezing temperatures and asked for understanding regarding taking a day off: “You aren’t 91 years old,” he quipped.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
