President Donald Trump turns 80 on Sunday, joining a growing cohort of Americans working into their ninth decade and beyond. The percentage of U.S. residents 65 and older who are in the workforce has quadrupled since the mid-1980s, according to Pew Research Center data cited in a recent BBC report — with about 19% of that age group now holding jobs.
Trump, who turns 80, is the second-oldest U.S. leader in history, behind Joe Biden, who left office at 82. He is also one of the oldest world leaders, according to Pew.
Dr. Arthur Rose is one such American. Rose, a Michigan internist, retired in February on his 95th birthday after practicing medicine for more than 65 years. His retirement was partially inspired by his brother, who died at 95 during the Covid pandemic.
“The job was really not pleasing me anymore,” Rose told BBC News. “I just wasn’t getting that same kind of exhilaration.”
Rose said the thought never occurred to him to retire earlier because he liked what he was doing, and because he felt like his patients and society were relying on him. “I guess I felt that no one could do without me,” he said.
Several factors may be leading more people to work into their later years, ageing experts said. For one, more people have access to health care, meaning more Americans are reaching their 80s. For some, the move may be financially necessary as the cost of living rises. A recent survey by Indeed Flex, a job search site, found that almost 30% of retirees are considering part-time or temporary work. More than 60% of those who are cited the rising cost of living as a factor; about half attributed their interest to a desire for more social interaction.
“I hope that people are beginning to think, it’s really who’s qualified for the job, it’s not what age they are,” said Gordon Lithgow, a professor with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. “There’s no question that people can function well into their 70s and potentially their 80s as well.”
For Harriet Newman Cohen, a 93-year-old matrimonial lawyer who still goes to court and recently wrote a memoir, some of the most rewarding years of her life have been her later decades. “Working has kept me young, vigorous, energetic, knowledgeable, fun,” said Cohen, who has represented celebrities in their divorces, including former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. “I just can’t imagine living any other way.”
The issue of ageing led Biden to drop his re-election bid in the 2024 presidential race against Trump. After a dismal debate performance, prominent Democrats raised worries about Biden’s cognitive abilities and called on him to leave the race. Some lawmakers and members of the public have also raised concerns about Trump’s health as he turns 80.
At a congressional hearing this month, Democrat Ted Lieu showed a series of videos that appeared to show the commander-in-chief dozing off in meetings, saying it showed “something very wrong.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the line of questioning “absurd” and said he had never seen Trump fall asleep in public. “On the contrary, the guy doesn’t sleep, which is a big problem.”
After a medical exam at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Trump’s physician said the president was in “excellent health.” Capt. Sean Barbabella said Trump’s “demanding daily schedule, including multiple high-level meetings, public engagements and regular physical activity continues to support his overall well-being.”
Lithgow said rest is critical for an older person working in a stressful environment. The effect of life stressors — such as sleepless nights — can be detected in cellular activity. “It’s actually real biological stress, and it accelerates ageing,” he said. “Chronic stressors daily can have a really ravaging effect on people.”
This year, 24 members of Congress were older than 80, including Senator Chuck Grassley, the oldest lawmaker at age 92.
Cohen said one of her secrets to longevity is sleeping more than eight hours a night, as well as being an avid reader and conversationalist. Her family has always worked past retirement age, including her grandmother, who died while in her 80s in a hallway of the building she owned on her way to fix the plumbing in a tenant’s apartment.
“I always knew I would work forever,” Cohen said, adding that her work has given her a sense of purpose — something Lithgow said can be a benefit for people working in their later years.
Lithgow said the strongest protectors against accelerated ageing are a person’s income and availability of resources, including health care. Genetics, he said, do not play too much of a role. “If you start with an ability to access the best possible healthcare, then you’re already having an advantage over the vast majority of people.”
Rose remains in good health at 95, though he does not know what sets him apart from many of his peers who never made it to that age. “I really haven’t the faintest idea as to what I’ve done,” he said. “I don’t smoke. I have a schnapps every now and then.”