By John Q. Hosedrinker 
During a recent discussion with reporters, President Donald Trump referred to an “IQ test” he took at Walter Reed Medical Center, while also challenging Democratic Representatives Jasmine Crockett and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to take the same exam. Trump has previously boasted about his perfect scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a dementia screening test, and appeared to be referencing it again. Experts caution that the MoCA is not intended to measure intelligence. Trump’s physician has previously stated that the former president received perfect scores on the MoCA during his physical exams.
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Donald Trump Confuses Dementia Screening for ‘Very Hard’ IQ Test as He Brags About Results. This is the kind of headline that just writes itself, doesn’t it? It’s a perfect encapsulation of a situation that, frankly, is both concerning and, well, darkly humorous. Here we have a former president, speaking aboard Air Force One, and boasting about his performance on what he apparently believes was a particularly challenging IQ test. The reality, as we now understand it, is far more concerning: it was a dementia screening.
Donald Trump, in his own words, claimed to have taken this “IQ test” at Walter Reed Medical Center and even went so far as to issue a challenge to Democratic Representatives Jasmine Crockett and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, suggesting they take the same exam. It’s a baffling proposition, especially when you consider that he’s essentially bragging about passing a test designed to detect cognitive decline. The idea that this is a sign of superior intellect is, to put it mildly, misguided.
Donald Trump, throughout his time in the public eye, has previously touted his performance on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a test specifically used by clinicians to screen for dementia. This is not, let me be very clear, an IQ test. It’s a screening tool, a way for doctors to assess cognitive function and look for signs of impairment. The fact that he’s conflating the two, that he seems to genuinely believe he aced an IQ test when he actually underwent a dementia screening, is a truly telling detail.
Donald Trump’s challenge to AOC and Crockett is particularly revealing. It’s like he thinks his alleged superior cognitive ability will somehow demonstrate that he is somehow smarter than them, in some twisted political chess match. But the truth is, his boasting actually highlights a potential problem: that he seemingly struggles to grasp the difference between a dementia screening and a measure of intelligence. That’s a huge tell.
Donald Trump’s boasts about passing the test. I mean, what does “passing” even mean in this context? Is it about recognizing shapes? Drawing a clock? The specifics of the screening don’t matter; it’s the fact that he’s touting it as a victory that matters. Bragging about acing a test designed to identify cognitive decline isn’t exactly a flex.
Donald Trump’s actions are reminiscent of a recurring theme. The “Groundhog Day” feeling is strong here. He has a history of misinterpreting and misunderstanding these types of tests, and this is just the latest iteration. It’s the same old story of misunderstanding, misrepresentation, and a fundamental lack of self-awareness.
Donald Trump’s specific comments highlight what he thinks the “test” entails. Think about the test itself: a test designed to assess whether someone is experiencing cognitive decline. And yet, this is the guy who’s supposed to be in command. Is he thinking about the difference? Does he even know? Again, he has previously discussed his ability to name animal shapes. It’s all just…bizarre.
Donald Trump’s doctors most likely had to use some sort of trick. It’s hard to imagine him willingly submitting to any kind of cognitive test if he understood its purpose. This highlights a potential problem, especially when considering the implications of that outcome.
Donald Trump’s past actions provide context. He has shown issues in his personal life, and confusion is common. It is a very serious concern.
Donald Trump’s general confusion, or perhaps his willingness to deceive himself, isn’t particularly new. He seems to struggle with basic concepts, like the difference between a screening test and an IQ test. The level of self-deception and delusion is astounding. It’s hard to tell whether the people around him are enabling this behavior, trying to mitigate the damage, or simply along for the ride.
Donald Trump’s response is concerning. There’s a reason doctors use these cognitive tests. It’s a diagnostic tool, and the results can be essential. A doctor’s desire to give you such a test is never a good thing.
Donald Trump’s behavior is, frankly, just incredibly dumb. The fact that he thinks identifying shapes is an indicator of brilliance says it all. The fact that this is all happening again is almost more unbelievable.
Donald Trump’s challenge to AOC and Crockett, if they were to take the test and, as many of us would assume, easily pass it, could highlight the problem even further, if that is even possible.
Donald Trump’s continued presence on the political stage, regardless of the test results, is a frightening prospect. The reality of the situation is that there’s nothing to stop him.
Donald Trump’s behavior demonstrates an ongoing pattern. We’ve seen it before, we’re seeing it again, and it’s likely we’ll continue to see it. It’s an indictment of the people around him, who seemingly allow this to happen. The story, as always, is far more depressing than it is comical.