Trump Claims He ‘Aced’ A ‘Tough’ Cognitive Test, But Experts Say Tests Are Very Simple

In an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News Channel, Donald Trump once again highlighted his supposed success on a cognitive test and emphasized the difficulty of the questions. Trump’s remarks were accompanied by a post on his Truth Social platform which boasted about his test performance and called for mandatory testing.

With typical cognitive tests, Trump explained to Hannity, “They’re not that easy, you know. They, they show you the first ones are pretty easy. And then you get up, you get into the middle category, then you get to the end… very few people could answer those questions. They’re, they’re actually very tough.”

Trump said the questions included identification of animal shapes that progressively “got harder,” and complex math problems. The test was administered by former White House physician Ronny Jackson.

Jackson initially stated in 2018 that cognitive testing was not clinically indicated. However, Trump insisted he undergo the assessment and expressed his desire to evaluate his cognitive ability. Jackson conducted a comprehensive and lengthy test, distinct from simpler alternatives commonly used in primary care settings. Jackson claims that Trump performed exceptionally well on the test.

However, experts say that the cognitive test Trump touted as a challenge is, in fact, regarded as relatively easy.

A mock exam of the widely used Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which featured the same questions Trump had mentioned, features straightforward questions that do not involve complex mathematical equations.

For instance, it includes a question that requires the individual to identify animals, as well as inquiries about word similarity and drawing a given time on a clock. The sole mathematical problem in the mock assessment is the serial sevens test, which has the individual count backward from 100 in increments of seven.

Though it is not confirmed this is the test Trump took, the similarities behind the questions, paired with the assessment’s popularity, suggest the theory is likely.

The topic of cognitive testing for presidents and presidential candidates continues to generate debates and discussions after U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley suggested that such tests should be mandatory for presidential candidates.

Haley has repeatedly suggested that Trump is suffering from early-stage dementia.

Trump didn’t help matters last week when he called his wife, Melania, “Mercedes” during his CPAC speech.

Critics argue that mandatory testing could offer valuable insights into a candidate’s mental fitness for office. However, concerns about the constitutionality of such requirements and the potential for misuse or politicization persist.