Fact-check analysisVerified as of August 29, 2026Curated by FactVerify
True

Article II of the U.S. Constitution requires a person to have attained the age of 35 to be eligible to serve as president.

Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution sets 35 as the minimum age for eligibility to the presidency.

Why is there no age limit to being president? Thank the Founders : NPR

Why is there no age limit to being president? Thank the Founders : NPR

Source: npr.org

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified August 29, 2026
  • Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 states that no person is eligible for the presidency without having attained the age of 35.

  • The requirement is a minimum age, so eligibility begins at 35 and does not require a candidate to be exactly 35.

  • The Constitution includes no comparable maximum-age limit for presidential eligibility.

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The Constitution expressly states that no person is eligible for the office of president unless they have attained the age of 35, alongside requirements concerning citizenship and residency. The provision appears in Article II, Section 1, Clause 5, so the claim accurately identifies both the constitutional source and the age threshold.law.cornell.edulaw.cornell.eduArticle II | U.S. Constitution | US Lawlaw.cornell.edulaw.cornell.eduQualifications for the Presidency | U.S. Constitution Annotated | US Law

NPR and other explanatory sources describe this as a minimum age requirement, meaning a person must be at least 35, not exactly 35, to be eligible. The Constitution establishes a lower age limit but does not set a maximum age limit for serving as president.npr.orgnpr.orgWhy is there no age limit to being president? Thank the Founders : NPRthoughtco.comthoughtco.comConstitutional Requirements to Serve as President of the U.S+1 more

The primary constitutional text and the U.S. Constitution Annotated provide the strongest support. The additional sources generally repeat the same requirement, although some are secondary or informal references and are not needed to establish the point.law.cornell.edulaw.cornell.eduArticle II | U.S. Constitution | US Lawconstitution.heritage.orgconstitution.heritage.orgThe Presidential Eligibility Clause+1 more

Primary trail

Verified Sources10

Why is there no age limit to being president? Thank the Founders : NPR

npr.org7/11/2024
Open source

Article II | U.S. Constitution | US Law

law.cornell.edu
Open source

Qualifications for the Presidency | U.S. Constitution Annotated | US Law

law.cornell.edu
Open source
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