President Donald Trump addressed supporters in North Carolina, reiterating his claims of having “aced” multiple cognitive tests as questions about his mental fitness persist. His remarks came amidst ongoing scrutiny regarding the health of his political rival, President Joe Biden, particularly following a series of public appearances that raised eyebrows, including instances where Biden appeared to doze off.
During the rally, Trump reflected on his experience with cognitive assessments, stating, “I did something no other president’s ever done. I took cognitive tests because I know that and by the way, not easy.” He emphasized his belief in his mental acuity by contrasting his performance on these tests with that of Biden. “Could you imagine sleepy Joe taking a cognitive test?” Trump asked, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Trump recounted a specific question from the cognitive test, which required identifying animals. “The first question is like, ‘What is this?’ And they show a lion, a giraffe, a fish, and a hippopotamus. And they say, ‘Which is the giraffe?’” He humorously suggested that Biden would struggle with such questions, stating, “I don’t think Joe would have gotten the first question right.”
Details of Trump’s Cognitive Assessments
During his presidency, specifically in 2018, Trump reportedly achieved a perfect score on a cognitive assessment, as noted by the White House physician at the time. This included recalling five words: “person, woman, man, camera, TV.” More recently, in April 2023, Trump claimed he completed another mental fitness test and “got every answer right.” His latest cognitive test occurred in October, where he asserted he “ACED” the exam, stating, “This is big stuff. This is at Walter Reed, I’ve got a whole team of doctors all over the place.”
Trump described his discussion with his doctors regarding the cognitive test, explaining, “What do you think? Should I do it? They said, ‘Well, here’s the good news. The good news is that if you do well that’s great… If you do badly it’s going to be the biggest story in history.’” He concluded that following his October assessment, he was found to be in “perfect health.”
Despite Trump’s affirmations about his cognitive abilities, his remarks have drawn skepticism from various quarters. California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom commented on social media, suggesting that Trump was exhibiting signs of mental decline. Similarly, Representative Ted Lieu from California questioned the rationale behind subjecting Trump to cognitive tests.
Concerns About Mental Fitness
The discussion surrounding Trump’s mental fitness has been amplified by his recent public appearances, where he has been observed to exhibit erratic behavior. Following a lengthy address from the White House earlier this week, cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Reiner, who previously treated former Vice President Dick Cheney, expressed concern over Trump’s “manic cadence,” describing it as “very disturbing.”
Trump himself acknowledged that there may come a time when his cognitive abilities are not at their peak. “There will be a time when perhaps I won’t be 100 percent,” he admitted, adding, “When that time comes, I’ll let you know about it. In fact, you probably will find out about it just by watching. But that time is not now because I feel the same that I’ve felt for 50 years, I really do.”
As the political landscape remains divided, the focus on the cognitive fitness of both Trump and Biden reflects broader concerns about the capabilities of aging leaders in high-stakes positions.
