Rahm Emanuel, a former Chicago mayor and U.S. ambassador to Japan who has signaled interest in a 2028 presidential run, on Wednesday called for a mandatory retirement age of 75 for the president, cabinet officials, members of Congress and federal judges, according to a report from DNYUZ. Speaking at the Center for American Progress in Washington during remarks focused largely on education policy, Emanuel framed the proposal as part of broader ethics reforms, saying, “Across all three branches of government, 75 years — you’re out,” adding, “Clean it up, all of Washington, and when you’re 75, you can’t do that in the military, you can’t do it in corporate America, you should not be in government at all. Thank you for your service, up and out.”
His comments come amid growing scrutiny over the age of U.S. leaders following the elections of the two oldest presidents in American history, including President Trump, 79, and former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who exited the 2024 race at 81. Emanuel, 66, said the age cap would also apply to him, writing in a text message, “You can count,” while urging Democrats to revive an anticorruption agenda addressing issues such as gifts to Supreme Court justices and stock trading by lawmakers.