Trump claims he feels mentally 'sharp' after Haley attacked his age and gaffes

(Patria) - Donald Trump said he feels 'sharper than I felt twenty years ago', responding to attacks on his age and verbal gaffes by Nikki Haley, reported Reuters.

Trump also said that presidential candidates should be required to take a cognitive test, which was clearly a response to a challenge from Haley, who advocated the same policy, citing the age of Trump (77) and Democratic President Joe Biden (81).

Trump spoke at a rally in Nevada, ahead of the next vote in the Republican race for the presidential nomination on February 8. Haley accused Trump of being confused and questioned his ability to be president at his age.

Trump has made several gaffes recently. In a speech on January 19, he confused Haley with former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He occasionally seemed to struggle with his words, and suggested that former President Barack Obama was still in office.

Shortly after Trump's speech, Haley appeared at a rally in South Carolina. She again said Trump had recently seemed 'confused' and said that if he wants to take a cognitive test, 'he should have no problem stepping onto a debate stage with me, because that is the ultimate test of mental fitness for anyone running for president.'

Trump has refused to participate in any Republican debate and refuses to debate Haley.

In his speech in Nevada, Trump repeated a demeaning nickname for Haley, calling her 'birdbrain'. He also accused Haley of being 'almost a radical left Democrat.'

Trump stated: 'It's time to end this,' referring to his fight for the nomination. He leads Haley in public opinion polls in South Carolina.

After Trump's victory in the New Hampshire primary on January 23, Biden's campaign said in a statement: 'It is now clear that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee.'