Donald Trump Mistakenly Calls His 2020 Dementia Screening a “Very Hard” IQ Test While Boasting About Results Aboard Air Force One
Donald Trump is once again making headlines for his remarks about a cognitive test he claims to have aced years ago, confusing it with what he described as a “very hard” IQ test. The former president brought up the topic while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, revisiting a story that first surfaced during his presidency when he touted his results on a cognitive assessment intended to screen for early signs of dementia.
According to multiple outlets, including People and CNN, Trump’s latest comments came as part of a broader discussion about his mental sharpness, an issue that continues to be a point of both pride and controversy for the former president. He enthusiastically recounted taking what he called a “tough test” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, adding that doctors were “very impressed” with how well he performed. The only problem, as medical experts have repeatedly clarified, is that the test in question was never meant to measure intelligence or problem-solving ability — it was a simple cognitive screening exam designed to detect possible memory impairment.
The test Trump referred to is known as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a tool often used by neurologists to quickly identify potential symptoms of cognitive decline, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease. The questions are intentionally basic — participants might be asked to identify a drawing of an animal, repeat a list of words, count backward, or draw a clock showing a specific time. Physicians have noted that it’s not the kind of exam someone would describe as difficult unless there were serious cognitive issues present.
Still, Trump continues to frame the experience as a demonstration of his intelligence. During the 2020 campaign, he famously described the test’s challenges by recalling one of its most basic questions: identifying an elephant. “They said, ‘Can you remember five words?’ And I said, ‘Person, woman, man, camera, TV,’” he said at the time, adding that doctors were amazed at his ability to recall the words later. That phrase quickly went viral, spawning memes and late-night comedy skits, yet Trump leaned into it as proof of his mental acuity.
In his most recent comments, Trump doubled down on that idea. He told reporters that he had “passed with flying colors” and that the doctors were “shocked” by his results. For supporters, his confidence plays into the image of a leader who refuses to back down even under scrutiny. For critics, it was yet another example of his tendency to exaggerate achievements and misunderstand context.
Doctors who helped develop and administer the MoCA test have gently clarified in interviews that it’s not an IQ assessment and certainly not meant to be taken as a measure of intelligence. Dr. Ziad Nasreddine, who created the test, once told reporters that it’s simply a screening tool, explaining that “anyone with a normal cognitive function should be able to score well.”
Trump’s retelling of the story, however, continues to resonate with his base. Supporters often see it as proof of his mental sharpness and his ability to handle pressure. The anecdote has even become a kind of shorthand at rallies — a familiar story that gets laughs, applause, and the occasional “Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.” chant from the crowd.
But the renewed discussion also highlights a recurring theme in Trump’s public persona: his deep desire to be perceived as smart, capable, and in control. Throughout his career, he has frequently boasted about his intelligence, calling himself “a very stable genius” and claiming to have “one of the highest IQs.” Those claims have never been substantiated, but they have become a consistent part of his larger-than-life brand — confident, combative, and unapologetically self-assured.
As the 2024 campaign season continues to unfold, Trump’s comments about the test are resurfacing alongside broader questions about the age and cognitive fitness of both major candidates. While President Joe Biden faces similar scrutiny regarding his age and verbal slips, Trump’s insistence on using a dementia screening as evidence of superior intellect adds another curious layer to the ongoing political conversation.
In the end, Trump’s story about his “very hard test” remains a strange but memorable chapter in modern political history — one that perfectly encapsulates his style: bold, defiant, and completely unlike any politician before him.
