President Trump has claimed he “aced” all three cognitive tests administered to him during his first and second presidencies, asserting that no other president has ever undergone such an assessment. Speaking at the White House on Monday, the commander-in-chief addressed his mental acuity, stating, “The first question is very easy, and they always show the first question. You have a lion, a bear, an alligator and a…what’s another good…a squirrel…okay? Which is the squirrel?”
Later in his remarks, while emphasising the test’s difficulty, Trump added, “One doctor said, 'It's the first time I've ever seen anyone get all questions right.'” The test in question is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a 10-minute evaluation designed to detect mild cognitive impairment by assessing short-term memory, attention, and concentration, according to the MoCA coalition website.
Criticism and Reactions
Headquarters, former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Gen-Z-focused account on X, shared an example of a similar test, captioning it, “The test Trump is calling ‘hard’.” One question shows sketches of a lion, rhino, and camel, asking participants to name each animal. Another requires copying a picture of a cube to demonstrate understanding of 3D space, and the quiz also tests abstract reasoning, such as linking “banana” and “apple” as fruits.
Dr Ziad Nasreddine, who designed the MoCA test, told nine.com.au that the average person scores 26 out of 30, and about 10 percent of people aged 79—Trump’s age—get all questions correct. “I think he's proud that he is able to demonstrate that his cognition is fine,” Nasreddine said. “Obviously, he likes to maybe boast about it because of his age, and people might think that at his age, you might have more difficulty with your cognition.” In 2020, Nasreddine told MarketWatch the assessment is “supposed to be easy for someone who has no cognitive impairment.”
Political and Public Doubts
Democratic Representative Ted Lieu took a swipe at the president on X, addressing a post directly to the White House: “Dear @WhiteHouse: Why are cognitive tests continuously being administered to trump (sic). This is not normal. What are you hiding from the American people?” He added, “Also let trump (sic) know that squirrel is the wrong answer.”
Despite Trump’s insistence that he is in good health, a new poll by The Washington Post, ABC News, and Ipsos found that 59 percent of respondents do not believe he has the mental acuity to serve as commander-in-chief, and 55 percent doubt he is physically healthy enough. Trump’s physical health has also been questioned due to bruising on his hand and swollen ankles, which the White House attributes to chronic venous insufficiency. During a speech in March, Trump claimed former White House doctor Ronny Jackson said he would live to 200 if he stopped eating “junk food.”
Trump has repeatedly insisted that anyone running for president or vice president should take a cognitive test, a stance he reiterated during Monday’s speech. However, public confidence in his fitness remains low, with many Americans expressing concerns about his age and health.
