Former US President Donald Trump has left medical experts scratching their heads after making a series of extraordinary and unverified claims about his cognitive abilities during a recent interview.
Trump boasted of 'acing' a cognitive test designed to detect signs of dementia, telling Dr. Phil McGraw that his performance was so impressive that physicians were left utterly stunned. His anecdote has been met with widespread scepticism from the medical community.
'They Had Tears in Their Eyes': Trump's Dubious Anecdote
In a conversation that has since gone viral, Trump recounted the moment to Dr. Phil, stating, "They said, 'Nobody gets anything like that... They were amazed. You know, these are experts. They were amazed."
He further elaborated with a dramatic flourish, claiming the doctors were so overcome with emotion that "they had tears in their eyes" upon seeing his results. Such a reaction is considered highly unusual and clinically implausible by neurological experts.
Medical Professionals Push Back on 'Bonkers' Claims
The medical world has been quick to dismiss Trump's story as pure fantasy. Neurologists and other health experts have poured cold water on the former president's tale, labelling the claims as "bonkers" and without any basis in reality.
Such tests are standardised and scored objectively; a display of emotion from clinical professionals over a perfect score would be profoundly unprofessional and is not a recognised or credible response.
A Pattern of Questionable Health Boasts
This incident is not the first time Trump has made grandiose statements about his health. He has previously claimed his uncle was a genius at MIT and that his own genes are superior, suggesting a genetic predisposition for high intelligence.
These repeated assertions are widely seen as a strategic effort to combat growing concerns about his mental sharpness and frequent verbal gaffes on the campaign trail, as he vies for a return to the White House.
The interview has undoubtedly succeeded in generating headlines, but for most medical professionals and fact-checkers, the story doesn't add up.
