Jimmy Kimmel Attempts Donald Trump's Cognitive Test to Assess Its Difficulty
Jimmy Kimmel recently underwent a cognitive screening test similar to the one repeatedly mentioned by Donald Trump to showcase his mental acuity. The late-night host took the test after Trump claimed on social media to have "ACED" a third consecutive exam and advocated for mandatory testing for future candidates.
Kimmel, host of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, shared that he organized the evaluation in response to Trump's online remarks about the test. He offered Trump the chance to take the test live on TV, but when he received no response, he decided to take the test himself to understand what Trump was talking about.
Before airing the test, Kimmel preempted claims of staging, confirming he had not seen the questions beforehand and was willing to release the unedited version if needed. The segment titled "Is Jimmy a Moron?" showed Kimmel undergoing tasks like drawing, identifying animals, memory tests, and arithmetic.
At the end of the assessment, Dr. Sarah Swanson informed Kimmel that he scored a perfect 30 out of 30 points. Kimmel jokingly asked if he could be president, to which Swanson shrugged. The segment highlighted ongoing debates about presidential health disclosures in the United States.
Trump's Focus on Cognitive Testing
Trump has frequently emphasized cognitive testing since his first term, even reciting a sequence he was asked to remember during an interview. Kimmel's decision to take the test was directly linked to Trump's recent claims of acing his third exam and advocating for mandatory cognitive examinations for presidential candidates.
In 2018, Trump underwent a cognitive assessment as part of his annual physical, achieving a perfect score according to the White House physician at the time. Kimmel's segment, while entertaining, aimed to provide viewers with insights into the nature of cognitive assessments and challenge the notion of them being extraordinary feats.
Health disclosures in US politics, especially for older officials, remain a contentious issue. Presidents typically undergo annual physicals, with the level of detail released varying by administration. Trump's request for a cognitive test in 2018 was seen as a response to public speculation about his mental fitness.
