Donald Trump on Friday promised to deliver further tax cuts if he wins the November 5 US election, marking his 78th birthday, and made vague predictions about future attacks on American soil following the arrest of Tajik nationals with suspected ISIS links.

Addressing thousands of supporters at a convention center in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Republican nominee vowed to further cut corporate tax rates as well as provide tax relief to the middle class if he is president.

Trump, who is in a tight race with Democrat President Joe Biden, gave no specifics. Trump cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and implemented a number of other tax breaks that are set to expire next year.

“I want to make them permanent, and then I’m going to cut taxes even more,” Trump said, without offering a plan to offset the potential revenue shortfall. “I want to cut them even further, and especially for middle-income people.”

Trump, who has made a tough stance on immigration a central plank of his administration and vowed a sweeping crackdown if re-elected, again criticized Biden’s efforts to stem the flow of migrants entering the U.S. illegally.

Trump highlighted the recent arrests of eight people from Tajikistan in New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia who a person familiar with the investigation said were suspected of having links to the extremist group ISIS.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the men were arrested in coordination with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and were taken into custody on immigration charges, though the agency did not confirm their possible links to ISIS.

“Our country has never been in such danger as it is right now,” Trump said, claiming without evidence that thousands of terrorists were sneaking into the US. “Our country is going to pay a very heavy price for this for many, many years.”

Biden has toughened his approach to immigration as it has emerged as a major political weakness for him. Earlier this month he imposed a sweeping asylum ban on migrants who cross the US-Mexico border illegally.
Republicans in Congress earlier this year rejected a bipartisan effort to tighten immigration rules after Trump asked them not to pass it and hand Biden a political victory.

Cognitive Testing

Standing next to a giant cake adorned with “MAGA” hats reflecting his “Make America Great Again” slogan, Trump addressed a crowd of supporters, many of whom were dressed in red, white and blue. The event was organized by a group of supporters called Club 47 USA, the name reflecting their hopes that he will become the 47th president.

Age and mental acuity have been at the heart of the competition between Trump and Biden, which often receive more attention than policy issues.

Opinion polls show Americans are more concerned about the advancing age of Biden, who is 81. But at 78, Trump is just three-and-a-half years younger and would be the oldest person ever to be sworn in if he wins a second term.

While taking no explicit issue with Biden’s age, Trump once again sought to portray his Democratic rival, who sometimes makes verbal gaffes and is slow-witted, as physically frail and mentally unfit to sit in the Oval Office.

Describing Biden and his administration as “grossly incompetent” and “probably the dumbest leadership in the world,” Trump said “all presidents should have a competency test,” then mentioned a cognitive test he took during his term.

Biden, responding to questions about his age, told voters to focus on his accomplishments in office, which are evidence of his acumen and strength. He has called Trump a threat to democracy after his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and has criticized his sometimes absurd speeches, as well as his use of inflammatory rhetoric against immigrants.

“Happy 78th birthday, Donald. Take it from one old man to another old man: Age is just a number,” Biden posted in a video on social media platform X, comparing his actions to Trump’s. “However, this election is a choice.”

In a Reuters/Ipsos poll in February, about 78 percent of respondents — including 71 percent of Democrats — said Biden, already the oldest president, is too old to serve in government. About 53 percent of respondents said Trump, who was president from 2017-2021, is too old to serve in government.

It is unclear to what extent age will be a factor in the final outcome. Issues voters will consider include the strength of the economy, which is doing well overall but is beset by inflation, as well as immigration and abortion rights.

The first televised debate on June 27 will be a crucial test for both Biden and Trump, with voters viewing verbal gaffes as a potential sign that they are unfit to lead the country.