The Truth Behind Donald Trump's IQ Score: 5 Facts About His Cognitive Assessments

The question of former President Donald Trump's intelligence and cognitive ability remains one of the most hotly debated topics in American politics, especially as of December 2025. While the public often focuses on a single, definitive IQ number, the reality is far more nuanced, revolving around a specific cognitive screening test and a persistent set of unverified rumors.

The controversy surrounding the "Trump IQ score" is a classic case of a political narrative overshadowing clinical facts. This article dives deep into the verifiable data, separating the perfect test score from the unproven claims, and providing a comprehensive look at the former President’s cognitive record and academic background.

Donald J. Trump: A Brief Biography and Academic Profile

To understand the debate over his intelligence, it is essential to first review the educational and professional foundation of Donald John Trump. Born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, Trump's early life was marked by a focus on discipline and business acumen, traits often associated with high intelligence and strategic thinking.

• The Facts Of Life Cast Where Are Eastlands Girls Now 2024 Updates 2tx8p

• Full Name: Donald John Trump
• Date of Birth: June 14, 1946
• Place of Birth: Queens, New York
• Primary Education: The Kew-Forest School (Queens, NY)
• Military Academy: New York Military Academy (NYMA), where he was a star athlete and cadet.
• Undergraduate Study (1): Fordham University (1964–1966), where he studied economics.
• Undergraduate Study (2): The Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania (1966–1968).
• Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in economics from the Wharton School.
• Career Highlights: Real estate developer, media personality, 45th President of the United States.

Trump’s graduation from the Wharton School, one of the world's premier business institutions, is frequently cited as evidence of his high intellectual capacity. However, his academic record has also been a source of controversy, with claims about his class rank and GPA being disputed over the years.

Fact vs. Fiction: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Score

The most concrete and verifiable piece of data regarding Donald Trump's cognitive performance is his score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). This is the single test result that has fueled most of the public discussion about his "IQ."

The Perfect 30/30 Score

In January 2018, as part of his annual physical examination, then-President Trump took the MoCA test at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His physician at the time, Dr. Ronny Jackson, announced that the President had achieved a perfect score of 30 out of 30.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

Trump has since repeatedly referenced this test, often describing it as a "very hard IQ test" that he "aced," which he used to challenge the public's perception of his mental acuity.

What the MoCA Test Actually Measures

It is crucial to understand that the MoCA is not an IQ test. The test is a rapid, 10-minute screening tool designed to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early-stage dementia. The test assesses several cognitive domains, including:

• Visuospatial/Executive Function: Tasks like drawing a cube or a clock.
• Naming: Identifying pictures of animals.
• Memory: Recalling a list of five words.
• Attention: Sustained attention and subtraction tasks.
• Language: Repeating sentences and verbal fluency.
• Orientation: Stating the current date, location, and year.

A score of 26 or higher is considered normal, meaning a perfect 30/30 score simply indicates that the individual does not currently exhibit signs of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Experts widely agree that while the perfect score is positive, it provides no information about a person's actual IQ or overall intellectual brilliance.

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

Debunking the IQ Score Rumors: 73 vs. 156

The vacuum of an official, standardized IQ test score has been filled by two persistent, yet completely unverified, numbers that circulate in media and on social platforms. These figures—73 and 156—represent the two extreme ends of the intelligence spectrum.

The Debunked '73' IQ Score

A recurring rumor, often amplified on social media, claims that Donald Trump scored 73 on an IQ test while attending the New York Military Academy. This claim, which would place him in the "extremely low" range, has been thoroughly debunked by fact-checking organizations. There is no credible evidence, official document, or verifiable source to support the existence of this test or the alleged score.

The Unverified '156' IQ Score

On the opposite end, the number 156 has also been mentioned in the context of Trump's intelligence. An IQ score of 156 would be considered "genius" or "highly gifted," placing him in the top 0.1% of the population. While Trump has often boasted about his intelligence, directly claiming to have a high IQ, there is no public record of him ever taking a standardized, professionally administered IQ test like the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) or the Stanford-Binet that would yield this specific score.

In summary, both the 73 and 156 figures should be treated as political rhetoric or unsubstantiated claims, not factual data points regarding his intellectual capacity.

The Broader Cognitive Ability Debate and Presidential Fitness

The intense focus on Trump’s cognitive scores is part of a larger national conversation about the age and mental acuity of presidential candidates, a debate that also heavily involves President Joe Biden.

The MoCA test, while a key piece of information, is insufficient to draw conclusions about complex executive function, decision-making skills, or overall presidential fitness. Clinical psychologists and neurologists frequently point out that verbal flubs, unusual public appearances, and changes in debate style are often cited in the political arena as signs of cognitive decline.

However, these public observations are not a substitute for comprehensive neurological assessments. The political debate over Trump’s cognitive collapse or brilliance often overlooks the distinction between a screening test (MoCA) and a diagnostic tool (a full battery of neuropsychological tests).

Conclusion: The Definitive Answer on Donald Trump's IQ Score

The definitive answer to the question "What is Donald Trump's IQ score?" is that there is no official, verified IQ score. The closest factual data point is his perfect 30/30 score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a test he took as a cognitive screening for mild impairment, not a measure of overall intelligence.

The MoCA score confirms he was cognitively unimpaired at the time of the test, but it does not place him in any specific IQ bracket. The scores of 73 and 156 are widely considered to be unsubstantiated rumors. The actual evidence points to a highly educated individual—a graduate of the prestigious Wharton School—whose cognitive abilities remain a subject of intense political and public scrutiny.