Trump Outshines Biden On Cognitive Test And Public Appearance
On April 11, 2025, President Donald Trump underwent his first physical of his second term at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which included a cognitive test that he claimed to have “aced.” Trump, now 78 and the oldest president to start a second term, boasted about his performance, stating, “I took a cognitive test. And I don’t know what to tell you, other than I got every answer right,” during a public statement following the exam. The test, likely the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), is a 10-minute screening tool designed to detect mild cognitive impairment, involving tasks like recalling a list of words, identifying animals, and drawing a clock. Trump has a history of touting his cognitive test results, having taken the MoCA in 2018 and scoring a perfect 30/30, as reported by his then-physician Ronny Jackson. However, experts caution that the MoCA is not an intelligence test but a basic screen for dementia, and acing it merely indicates the absence of significant cognitive decline, not exceptional mental acuity.
When comparing Trump’s public appearances to those of his predecessor, Joe Biden, Trump often appears more vigorous and commanding, which can create an impression of superior mental sharpness. Biden, who started his term at 78 and visibly slowed down over time, frequently exhibited physical and verbal stumbles—such as slurring words, trailing off mid-sentence, and mixing up names like calling the president of Mexico when he meant Egypt. These moments, amplified by a grueling schedule and a lifelong stutter, fueled public concern about Biden’s mental fitness, with 82% of voters in a 2024 Bloomberg/Morning Consult survey believing Biden or both candidates were too old to serve. Trump, despite his own gaffes—like confusing Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi in 2024—projects a more energetic presence, often delivering lengthy, animated speeches at rallies, such as his July 2024 event in Doral, Florida. This contrast in demeanor, rather than the cognitive test itself, often leads observers to perceive Trump as mentally sharper, even if his policy statements, like claiming the U.S. had “one of the lowest mortality rates in the world” during the COVID-19 crisis, have been factually inaccurate.
However, the perception of Trump as a “genius” based on public appearances and a cognitive test result oversimplifies the complexities of mental fitness for leadership. Trump’s own history of missteps, such as his nonsensical rants about sharks or Hannibal Lecter, and his tendency to exaggerate—like claiming the MoCA included identifying a whale, which it never has—suggests a disconnect between his self-presentation and reality. Biden’s more reserved style, while less dynamic, often reflected a deliberative approach, and his team argued he underwent a daily cognitive test through the rigors of the presidency. Experts like Dr. Ziad Nasreddine, creator of the MoCA, noted in 2024 that Biden’s slowing speech and movement raised concerns, but Trump’s vigor doesn’t necessarily equate to cognitive superiority. Public perception, shaped by optics rather than substance, often ignores that both men, as “super agers” with access to top healthcare, likely function well for their age, but neither’s public persona fully captures their capacity to handle the presidency’s demands.
