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Fact check: Trumps iq is only 72

Checked on May 9, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The claim about Trump having an IQ of 72 is demonstrably false and has been thoroughly debunked. Multiple sources confirm this is a fabricated meme that circulated online [1] [2]. The images and story purporting to show Trump's IQ test results were manufactured using miscaptioned stock photos [2] [3]. Snopes, a fact-checking organization, found no authentic documentation or credible evidence supporting this claim in newspapers or archives [2] [4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual points need to be considered:

  • Trump's actual IQ remains unverifiable due to lack of public records [1]
  • Some speculations suggest his IQ could actually range from 120 to 156, significantly above average [5]
  • Intelligence experts emphasize that intelligence cannot be reduced to a single metric like IQ [6]
  • The average IQ range for most people is between 85-115, making a score of 72/73 significantly below average [3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The spread of this false claim reveals several concerning aspects:

  • The story appears to have been deliberately created to disparage Trump [2]
  • No legitimate news outlets have reported this claim [2]
  • The narrative demonstrates how media and political biases can shape public perceptions of intelligence [6]
  • The claim gained popularity specifically among Trump's critics, suggesting a politically motivated acceptance of unverified information [5]

This case illustrates how political polarization can lead to the spread of demonstrably false information, with both supporters and critics potentially allowing their biases to influence their acceptance or rejection of unverified claims.

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