Jimmy Connors Responds to Donald Trump Confusing Him for Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Connors responded on Monday to Donald Trump's mix up at a weekend rally, when the former president confused the tennis legend with Jimmy Carter.

Trump and President Joe Biden have clinched the presidential nominations for the Republican and Democratic parties, respectively, but a rematch of 2020 is unpopular, with voters routinely telling pollsters that they believe neither should get a second term. Hypothetical general election matchups have generally shown the two in a neck-and-neck race.

On Saturday, Trump held a campaign rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, where he made a series of bizarre comments and gaffes. While addressing the crowd, Trump sought to take aim at Biden as he attempted to explain that Carter, the 39th president, had a "bad reputation" during his time in office, but claimed he is considered "brilliant" in comparison to Biden.

However, Trump had mistakenly called Carter "Jimmy Connors," a former world number one tennis player in the 1970s.

"Jimmy Connors is— He's also happy. Jimmy is a very happy man. Both of them because, you know what, they want him out. Jimmy Carter had a bad reputation. Right now, he is considered a totally brilliant president by comparison (to Joe Biden). Right now he is a totally brilliant president by comparison," Trump said.

In response, Connors, who won five United States Open titles in his long career, took to X, formerly Twitter, to share a photo of his face edited onto what appears to be an old Carter campaign button as he wrote: " Who knew?! #Connors2024."

In a statement emailed to Newsweek, Trump's spokesperson Steven Cheung said: "President Trump said Crooked Joe Biden has overtaken Jimmy Carter as worst president ever, just like he has done numerous times on the campaign trail."

Trump previously compared the two Democratic presidents, in April saying: "Biden is the worst president in the history of our country, worse than Jimmy Carter by a long shot."

Questions relating to the age and mental fitness of Trump, 77, and Biden, 81, have been consistent talking points during the 2024 election. Trump's age and cognitive abilities have recently come into question after he made several gaffes on the campaign trail, including mixing up world leaders and confusing his one-time presidential nominee rival Nikki Haley with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

This is also not the first time Trump has mixed up former presidents' names on the campaign trail, as he previously confused Biden and former President Barack Obama's names several times during campaign stops. He mixed up Obama and Biden at least seven times between September and November last year, according to Forbes.

However, Trump has said he was being "sarcastic" when mixing up Obama and Biden.

In addition, after sharing on Truth Social in November a medical report saying that he's in excellent health and his cognitive health was exceptional, Trump began to receive pushback as some questioned the accuracy of the report.

Trump and Biden are the oldest candidates to run for president, and both have come under scrutiny for appearing to misspeak and make errors on several occasions.

Newsweek also reached out to Biden's campaign for comment.