Gov. Ron Desantis (R-Fla.) warned Republican voters to ā€œassumeā€ that President Joe Biden would not be the Democratic presidential candidate in the 2024 election.

While speaking during a town hall event on Monday with Newsmax, DeSantis, 45, described himself as being in ā€œthe primeā€ of his life compared to Biden, who turned 81 on the same day, and Trump, 77.

DeSantis added he believes the Democratic Party ā€œknowsā€ Bidenā€˜s age is a ā€œbig issueā€ to voters.

ā€œI think that the Democrats know his…the age…it’s a big issue with voters, I think,ā€ DeSantis said. ā€œAnd, so I think they want someone else.ā€

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DeSantis stressed how Biden ā€œshould not be running againā€ and compared ā€œwhere he was 40 years agoā€ to where he is today you can see a decline in him.

ā€œThis is father time,ā€ DeSantis added. ā€œThis is just the nature of life that this happens. And, if you’re a pilot for an airline they make you retire at 65. So, if you can’t pilot a plane, somehow at 81 you can pilot the United States of America. And, we see, he’s totally lost step. I mean, it’s a daily embarrassment.ā€

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Biden’s age has been a significant concern among voters. An Associated Press/NORC poll from August showed that 77% of voters felt that Biden’s age was a bigger problem for his reelection. This is compared to Trump’s age where 51% of voters felt Trump’s age was a problem.

A similar Reuters/Ipsos poll from September showed that 77% of people were concerned about Biden’s age and fitness to be president, while 56% of people said Trump was too old for office.

ā€œThey also know they can’t just push him aside,ā€ DeSantis said, referring to the Democratic Party. ā€œHe’s got to agree. He’s the sitting president, and I don’t know how that’s going to work. I don’t know if he’s going to be willing to do it. But, Republican voters and Iowa caucusgoers, you should assume that it may not be Biden.ā€

DeSantis added that Republicans should be prepared to vote for a candidate who will do better against possible presidential candidates such as Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.).

While Newsom has denied that he is running for president in the upcoming 2024 election and has expressed support for Biden, recent political moves suggest he may be running a shadow campaign to be the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.