Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, making history as the oldest person to hold the office.
At 78 years and seven months, Trump surpasses the previous record held by Joe Biden, who was 78 years and two months when he was inaugurated in 2021.
This milestone invites a closer look at how age has shaped the presidency throughout U.S. history.
Age at inauguration: key points
Trump, born June 14, 1946, had already broken records in 2017 when he became the oldest president at 70 during his first term.
The average age of American presidents at their inauguration is 57, a benchmark set by George Washington in 1789.
Theodore Roosevelt remains the youngest president, taking office at age 42 after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901.
Lifespans of American presidents
Jimmy Carter, who died in December 2024 at the age of 100, holds the record for longest-serving president, serving a record 43 years in office.
John F. Kennedy, assassinated at age 46 in 1963, lived the shortest life of any American president.
Among the 41 presidents who have died, the average age at death is 72, with six living past age 90.
Longest and shortest durations
Franklin D. Roosevelt served the longest, serving more than 12 years from 1933 until his death in 1945.
William Henry Harrison’s presidency was the shortest, lasting only a month before his death in 1841.
Trump’s second act
Trump’s record age as he begins his second term marks a unique chapter in American political history. It reflects the changing dynamics of leadership, longevity and governance within the country’s highest offices.
As the United States embarks on this new chapter, attention turns to how Trump’s leadership, in this advanced era, will shape domestic policies, global relations, and the future trajectory of the nation.
