Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, responded to age-related criticisms at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Sunday. This event followed a quick stop where he served fries at a McDonald’s and was also scheduled to watch a Pittsburgh Steelers game.

“I’m not 80, and I’m not really close to it,” said the 78-year-old former president during a town hall meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

“I have taken cognitive tests twice and did exceptionally well on both. One doctor even remarked, ‘I’ve never seen anyone do so well,'” Trump explained.

He was likely referencing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which his former White House physician, Ronny Jackson—now a Republican Congressman from Texas—reported Trump passed with perfect marks back in January 2018. Trump has claimed he excelled at this brief test, which comprises 30 questions such as identifying an animal in a picture and recalling a list of words.

While at the town hall, Trump also criticized Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, for her changing stance on fracking, an energy extraction method commonly used in Pennsylvania and other states. Initially, she aimed to ban fracking during her 2019 presidential campaign but has since shifted to a more supportive position.

Earlier that day, Trump visited a McDonald’s in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, where he wore an apron, staffed the fry station, and distributed food to selected customers in the drive-thru.

Harris, on her side, celebrated her 60th birthday in Georgia by visiting two churches while promoting early voting in this important swing state.

‘She might have a cognitive issue’

In recent days, Democrats have targeted Trump’s age and behavior, especially after a town hall in Pennsylvania where he entertained the audience with music for almost 40 minutes after a Q&A session was cut short due to two medical incidents among attendees.

During a Boston fundraiser, Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota’s governor, pointed to Trump’s remarks from a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in which Trump shared an anecdote about a former pro golfer, calling the late Arnold Palmer “all man.”

Walz remarked, “I encounter people who say they don’t like Trump — maybe it’s his comments about Arnold Palmer in the showers they find off-putting?”

In his Sunday town hall, Trump defended against age-related critiques by referencing Wall Street Journal opinion contributor James Taranto, who suggested that there was no evident “decline” in Trump’s capability during a meeting with the paper’s editorial board on Thursday. Taranto noted that while Trump’s speaking style can sometimes confuse listeners, that attribute existed even nine years ago.

Trump attempted to redirect the criticism towards Harris, asserting, “She might be having a cognitive issue, but I am certainly not.”

‘Drill, baby, drill’

When a local business owner asked about rising gas prices during the Lancaster town hall, Trump vowed that if elected again, his administration would halve electricity and energy costs “within a year” by advocating for increased oil and gas development.

“What will we do? Drill, baby drill. Frack, baby frack,” Trump proclaimed.

His campaign then showcased video clips from Harris discussing her energy policy during her 2020 campaign, including her commitment to eliminate fracking entirely.

Trump asserted, “She doesn’t want fracking. It has never been her desire.” He also condemned Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom for severely impacting California, continuously mispronouncing Newsom’s name as if it were “New-scum.”

“We will not allow her to ruin America,” he stated.

Trump Advocates for Protecting Law Enforcement

A sheriff from Pennsylvania who has endorsed Trump asked how his law-and-order proposals would aid local law enforcement. Trump responded that officers must be protected from legal challenges.

“It’s essential to safeguard our law enforcement officers. They need immunity from negative repercussions,” Trump stated.

According to Trump, law enforcement personnel who perform their duties frequently face backlash from critics aiming to jeopardize their careers, benefits, or job security.

“We need to restore authority and respect to our officers because our cities are in chaos,” he said.

Trump to Attend Steelers Game as Harris Highlights Endorsements

Trump announced that he plans to be present at the Steelers versus New York Jets game on Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Ahead of the game, the Harris campaign highlighted endorsements from former Steelers stars Jerome “The Bus” Bettis and Joe Greene, along with support from Franco Harris’s family, who passed away in 2022.

Bettis commented in a video, “We need to elect a leader who will fight for us—someone committed to getting the job done, not just complaining at a nearly empty venue. The only candidate who meets that criterion is Vice President Kamala Harris.”

The Steelers are owned by Arthur Rooney II, whose father, Dan Rooney, was appointed as the U.S. ambassador to Ireland during the Obama era. Meanwhile, the Jets are co-owned by Robert Wood Johnson IV, a former U.S. ambassador to the UK in the Trump administration.

(This article has been updated with additional information.)