What cognitive tests has Donald Trump undergone and what were the results?
Executive summary: President Donald Trump has publicly said he “aced” a cognitive test and his White House doctors have reported he was given the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at least in 2018 and again as part of Walter Reed physicals in 2025; the White House physician described his overall exam as showing “excellent” or “exceptional” health (MoCA administration noted by Dr. Sean Barbabella and by prior physician Dr. Ronny Jackson) [1] [2] [3]. Reporting shows the MoCA is a brief dementia-screening tool not designed to measure IQ; Trump has repeatedly characterized it as a difficult “IQ” test and touted perfect or top scores, while the specific numeric results beyond his claims have not been publicly released in those sources [4] [5] [1].
1. What tests were reported and who administered them
White House doctors and reporting identify the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as the screening tool used on Trump in past physicals: first voluntarily in January 2018 and again during Walter Reed exams in 2025 — with current White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella and Trump’s former physician Dr. Ronny Jackson confirming MoCA use in 2018 and 2025 in reporting [1] [2]. Multiple outlets — Axios, Forbes, The Hill, BBC and others — describe the MoCA as the exam Trump referenced when saying he “aced” a cognitive test during his 2025 Walter Reed visit [6] [4] [3].
2. What results were reported publicly
Trump has repeatedly claimed top or “perfect” results on the cognitive screening, asserting he “aced” it and that doctors told him he got “the highest mark” [7] [8]. The White House physician’s public summary characterized Trump’s overall physical and imaging results as “excellent” or “exceptional” but did not publish a detailed, itemized MoCA score in the cited coverage; independent outlets note the numeric results have not been released in these sources [3] [4] [1].
3. What the MoCA measures — and what it does not
Medical reporting and experts cited in the coverage frame the MoCA as a 10‑ to 15‑minute screening tool to detect mild cognitive impairment and early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease; it is not an intelligence (IQ) test and is not designed to measure overall cognitive superiority [4] [9] [5]. The MoCA includes tasks such as naming animals, drawing a clock and connecting letters and numbers — items Trump has described publicly — but clinicians caution the test screens for impairment rather than measuring broad intellectual ability [4] [5].
4. Where the coverage diverges and what’s missing
News reports converge on the MoCA being the instrument used and on Trump’s own boastful descriptions, but they diverge on disclosure: sources note Trump’s claims of multiple tests (he has said he took them three times) and of perfect scores, yet independent confirmation in the cited reporting of exact scores or release of test forms is absent [1] [7]. Available sources do not mention a published MoCA numeric score or a full clinical interpretation beyond White House summaries of “excellent” health [4] [3].
5. How politicians and journalists framed the results
Trump’s public comments use the MoCA claims politically — juxtaposing his asserted “perfect” result with attacks on political opponents — while critics and some lawmakers called for greater transparency about his MRI and overall health records [8] [10]. Media pieces emphasize the medical limits of treating MoCA as an IQ test, and experts (including the MoCA’s creator) noted the screening should not be used to claim superior intelligence [5] [4].
6. Context and caution for readers
The MoCA can help rule out some forms of cognitive impairment but cannot by itself prove lifelong cognitive fitness or measure complex executive functions; it is most useful as a screening step that can prompt further neuropsychological testing if concerns arise [9] [4]. Reporting shows Trump and his team have used MoCA administration and selective health summaries as reassurance, but the cited sources do not provide detailed cognitive testing results, longitudinal assessments, or independent expert evaluations beyond the White House physician’s statements [1] [3]. Available sources do not mention any release of the MRI report linked to the October exam beyond White House assurances [8] [10].
Bottom line: The publicly reported record in these sources identifies the MoCA as the cognitive screening Trump has taken (2018 and 2025), and Trump has claimed top marks; medical reporting emphasizes the MoCA screens for dementia-related impairment rather than measuring IQ, and the cited coverage does not include a published, independent MoCA score or full clinical interpretation beyond White House summaries [1] [4] [5].