Maxine Waters, 87, Refuses to Say 100 Is Too Old for Congress (Video)

Rep. Maxine Waters may be pushing 90, but the longtime California Democrat made one thing crystal clear this week — she doesn’t think anyone is “too old” to stay in power, even if they’re 100 years old.

During a fiery exchange outside the U.S. Capitol, the 87-year-old congresswoman refused to support age limits for elected officials and insisted Americans should focus on “performance and effectiveness” instead of birthdays when deciding who belongs in office.

The awkward moment unfolded Thursday after a Working Families press conference when TMZ producer Jacob Wasserman confronted Waters with a question many Americans have been asking for years: At what point is someone simply too old to serve in Congress or the White House?

Rep. Maxine Waters tells @jacob_wass no one is too old to serve if they're good! pic.twitter.com/491eiNbWLw

— TMZ (@TMZ) May 14, 2026

Rather than naming an age cutoff, Waters doubled down on the idea that voters alone should decide.

“People should evaluate who should be in office with their vote, and that’s it,” Waters said as she walked into the Capitol.

The conversation quickly turned into a broader debate about aging politicians dominating Washington while younger Americans increasingly complain that the country is being run by leaders decades removed from everyday life.

Waters brushed those concerns aside and argued voters should judge politicians based on what they accomplish in office.

“What do they do? What can you document? What can you give them credit for? What can you criticize them for?” she said. “If you do what it takes to evaluate, then you can decide.”

When Wasserman suggested leaders should be judged on actions rather than age, Waters agreed, replying: “Performance and effectiveness.”

But things got more heated once President Donald Trump entered the discussion.

Asked whether an 80-year-old president might be “too old” — especially after Democrats spent years attacking former President Joe Biden over concerns about his mental sharpness — Waters refused to criticize Trump’s age directly and instead launched into an attack on his administration.

“The president of the United States is destroying our democracy,” Waters claimed. “He’s made unkept promises. He is enriching himself and his family with cryptocurrency.”

She also accused Trump of trying to “empower himself” while warning that Americans would ultimately reject him at the ballot box.

“I think some people are having buyer’s remorse, and we see it in the polls,” Waters said. “In the final analysis, it is the people who will finally determine that this president is dangerous and divisive.”

The exchange took another turn when Wasserman pressed Waters directly on whether there should be any maximum age for presidents or lawmakers.

Instead of giving a number, Waters again insisted age should not matter if voters continue supporting a candidate.

When asked whether even a “100-year-old fighter” should still be allowed to hold office, Waters refused to back down.

“The people should evaluate who should be in office with their vote, and that’s it,” she repeated.

The viral moment is already fueling fresh debate online over whether Washington needs cognitive testing or age limits for elected officials — especially as many of the country’s most powerful politicians continue serving well into their 80s and beyond.

Critics blasted Waters for refusing to acknowledge what they see as an obvious problem in modern politics, while supporters defended her comments as a reminder that voters — not arbitrary rules — should choose America’s leaders.

Still, the exchange highlighted a growing frustration among many Americans who believe the nation’s political class has become increasingly disconnected from younger generations struggling with inflation, housing costs, and an uncertain economy.

And with Congress already packed with aging lawmakers from both parties, Waters’ comments are likely to pour gasoline on an issue that isn’t going away anytime soon.