Key Takeaways
- Bill Clinton’s DNC speech showed signs of aging.
- He praised Joe Biden’s withdrawal and supported Kamala Harris.
- In 2013, Clinton revealed hand tremors from aging.
During his speech at the DNC on August 21, 2024, Bill Clinton mentioned having few conventions left, while many noted his shaky voice and trembling hands.
The 78-years-old Clinton, who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001, said:
I want to say this from the bottom of my heart, I have no idea how many more of these I’ll be able to come to. I started in ’76 and I’ve been everyone since — no, ’72. Lord, I’m getting old
His earlier powerful presence diminished as he stumbled over his script and spoke slowly, a noticeable shift from his previously dynamic speeches.
Even with his physical struggles, Clinton’s lasting devotion to political life was apparent as he addressed the convention with nostalgic and candid remarks.
Clinton expressed the relief inside the DNC hall by praising Kamala Harris and saluting President Joe Biden for his decision to drop out, stating that a “load’s off our shoulders.”
He made the candid comment while praising Harris’s decision to select Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.
During a 28-minute speech, he noted the lifted load while comparing Biden’s campaign withdrawal to George Washington’s decision amid possible blowout losses to Trump.
Clinton observed that he had just turned 78, adding:
and the only personal vanity I want to assert is I’m still younger than Donald Trump
Clinton is nearly two months younger than Trump, who turned 78 in June.
His grizzled appearance and low energy at the Democratic National Convention shocked voters online.
A user on Twitter remarked about his shaky hands and voice, writing:
Good lord… Bill Clinton, who’s is YOUNGER than Donald Trump, looks and sounds absolutely ancient in comparison. His hands are trembling and shaking, and his voice is weak. What happened to Bill?
Meanwhile, another wrote:
Bill Clinton has a scratchier voice but can still give an amazing speech!
Subsequently, another user wrote:
Clinton has shaky hands as he speaks. He should join Joe and go to the nursing home.
Clinton’s Convention Speech Sparks Health Concerns Online
After Bill Clinton spoke at the Democratic National Convention, several social media commentators observed his ‘weakened’ voice and speculated about his health, wondering if he was sick.
Addressing his health, one user wrote:
Bill Clinton seems to be in bad health. Trump will probably survive him.
Another wrote:
Exactly, Bill Clinton doesn’t seem to be in great health. He’s not Joe Biden.
His current health appears to be deteriorating with age, reflecting the challenges of his advancing years.
Unlike most presenters, Clinton chose to read from notes rather than the teleprompter during his speech.
In 2013, Clinton discussed a “little tremor” he had been experiencing in his hand.
At a Humana Challenge golf event, Clinton mentioned:
I have a condition that comes with aging. You might have noticed my hand tremors when I’m tired, which many older people experience.
He disclosed his initial concern that the tremor might be linked to Parkinson’s disease. He stated:
The first time it happened, I had to go get myself checked to make sure I didn’t have Parkinson’s [disease].
Clinton expressed he was “so relieved” to learn he didn’t have Parkinson’s and said he “didn’t care how much it shook after that.”
In October 2021, Clinton’s health issues led to hospitalization for a urologic infection that, despite being common in older adults, can become critical if not treated promptly.
His treatment involved intravenous antibiotics and meticulous monitoring to avert complications like sepsis.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Bill Clinton, born August 19, 1946, is the son of William Jefferson Blythe Jr., a traveling salesman, and Virginia Clinton Kelley, a nurse anesthetist.
- On November 20, 2013, President Obama honored Bill Clinton with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- On October 11, 1975, Bill and Hillary Clinton tied the knot.
