Trump recently renewed his unusual insistence on his cognitive abilities, repeating claims that he has taken multiple cognitive tests and «aced each one» of them. Speaking about ongoing questions surrounding his mental fitness, he said he often responds directly to critics by requesting new evaluations. «Whenever they get a little sassy, saying» he began, describing how people ask «Does he still have it? Does it still have what it takes,» before adding «I say ‘I’ll take another one’.» His remarks reflect a long-standing pattern of addressing scrutiny over his cognitive health through public references to standardized medical assessments.
During the same exchange, Trump offered a new example of the type of questions included in such tests, describing a scenario involving identifying animals. «You have a lion, a bear, an alligator, and a, what’s another good..? A squirrel.» he said, before adding «Which is the squirrel?» The comment drew attention for its simplicity, as it echoed previous descriptions he has given of similar exercises. Trump has repeatedly cited these examples as evidence of his mental sharpness, often presenting them as proof of cognitive strength in public speeches and interviews.
«I’m the only president that ever took a cognitive test.»
-U.S. President, Donald Trump
The test Trump frequently references is widely understood to be the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, a short screening tool designed to detect mild cognitive impairment and early signs of dementia. Developed in 2005 by Dr. Ziad Nasreddine in Montreal, the exam typically takes about ten minutes to complete and includes tasks such as memory recall, pattern recognition, and basic identification exercises. Medical professionals consistently emphasize that the test is not designed to measure intelligence or high-level reasoning, but rather to identify potential cognitive decline in clinical settings.
Trump’s public emphasis on the test dates back several years and has evolved into a recurring theme in his political messaging. In January 2018, he highlighted a perfect score of 30 out of 30, stating that doctors were «amazed» by the result. By 2020, he began referencing a memory sequence from the test, repeating «Person, Woman, Man, Camera, TV» as an example of its difficulty, while claiming «99% of the people… would not do well» on the task. Over time, these references have become a staple of his speeches, often framed as evidence of superior cognitive ability.
Since returning to the White House in 2025, Trump has continued to raise the topic, stating that he has completed additional evaluations and describing parts of the test as involving «very tough mathematical equations.» He has also claimed «I’m the only president that ever took a cognitive test,» presenting the screenings as a unique qualification. Medical experts, however, have repeatedly clarified that the MoCA is a basic diagnostic tool and not a measure of intellectual performance, reinforcing the gap between clinical interpretation and political messaging surrounding the test.
«You have a lion, a bear, an alligator, and a, what’s another good..? A squirrel. Which is the squirrel?»
-U.S. President, Donald Trump
Public and media concern regarding President Trump’s health since his return to the White House has centered on several recurring physical and cognitive signs. Observers have noted swollen ankles linked to chronic venous insufficiency, visible bruising attributed to daily aspirin use, and signs of fatigue during travel. Critics have also pointed to tangential speeches, reports of drowsiness during meetings, and late-night social media activity. While the White House maintains he is in excellent health and describes his energy as «superhuman», ongoing references to cognitive testing have continued to fuel debate about his overall fitness for office.
