Trump Advocates Cognitive Testing for All Presidential Candidates Amid Declining Health Concerns

Donald Trump, the 79-year-old former U.S. president, has reignited debate over the mental fitness of presidential candidates by calling for mandatory cognitive examinations. In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump argued that all individuals running for president or vice president should be required to take such a test before entering the race.

"Anybody running for President or Vice President should be forced to take a Cognitive Examination prior to entering the Race!" Trump wrote. "By doing so, we wouldn’t be surprised at people like Barack ‘Hussein’ Obama, or Sleepy Joe Biden, getting ‘ELECTED.’ Our Country would be a much better place!"

Trump’s demand follows his repeated calls for cognitive testing of political opponents. In October 2024, he insisted that then-Vice President Kamala Harris undergo a cognitive evaluation during her campaign. He has also previously suggested that President Joe Biden should have taken such a test before assuming office.

"I took the Exam three times during my (‘THREE!’) Terms as President, and ACED IT ALL THREE TIMES—An Achievement that, even on a single Exam, according to the Doctors, has rarely been done before!" he added.

Trump’s Own Cognitive Exams Under Scrutiny

However, Trump’s health—particularly his ability to stay awake—has been a recurring concern. Just last week, he was photographed falling asleep during a White House event, slumping over in his chair and closing his eyes for nearly a minute as aides announced a new pharmaceutical deal.

Trump’s history with cognitive exams has also raised questions. Since 2024, he has taken several such tests, but his descriptions of their contents have been inconsistent. While boasting to the press about his results, Trump has frequently misrepresented the test questions. At times, he claimed to have recited five words and performed basic multiplication, while at other times, he insisted he passed by correctly identifying a whale—despite test creators confirming that none of the three versions in circulation included such an image. Some test creators have clarified that their exams are designed to detect dementia, not cognitive speed.

Growing Concerns Over Trump’s Health and Behavior

Over the past year, Trump’s health has become a more pressing issue. During his second term, his speeches have grown increasingly disjointed and incoherent, and his behavior has become more erratic. Reports indicate that the 79-year-old has:

• Spent hours at Walter Reed Medical Center;
• Fallen asleep during more than a dozen critical meetings;
• Appeared lost and disoriented in meetings with foreign heads of state;
• Frequently slurred his speech;
• Been seen with discolored and bruised skin on multiple occasions.

In recent weeks, Trump has escalated his rhetoric, attacking long-time allies, threatening to "annihilate" Iranian civilization in a social media post, and clashing with Pope Leo XIV over claims that the pontiff was "weak on crime."

Trump has also made factual errors, including forgetting the date of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death and mistakenly asserting that North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, a vocal Trump critic, was no longer in office.

His increasingly aggressive stance, particularly regarding Iran, has renewed calls for him to undergo another cognitive evaluation. However, White House physicians missed an opportunity to conduct such a test in April, despite growing public and political pressure.