President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he scored a perfect 30/30 on a cognitive screening, calling it his fourth flawless result and totaling "120 correct answers out of 120." Medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner responded that the MOCA is a dementia screening tool, not an IQ test, and that scores of 26+ are considered normal. The exchange has renewed debate over what such tests can — and cannot — say about intelligence and fitness for office.
Trump Boasts Of Perfect MOCA Record — "120 Out Of 120" Claim Draws Expert Pushback
Trump
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social late Saturday to celebrate what he described as a perfect score on a cognitive screening exam, saying he answered every question correctly.
In the post, Trump wrote that he scored "30 out of 30, considered 'extreme intelligence,'" and added that this was his fourth such exam, claiming a total of "120 correct answers out of 120 questions asked." He also urged that all presidential and vice-presidential candidates be required to take "high difficulty Cognitive Tests," and called on Congress and "the Dumocrats" to demand them.
Experts Say MOCA Is A Screening Tool, Not An IQ Test
Medical analysts pushed back on the way the results were framed. CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner questioned why the president was given the screening again, noting the president has taken multiple such exams in recent years. Reiner emphasized that the test in question, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), is designed to screen for cognitive impairment and dementia, not to measure intelligence.
"I'm glad the president did well on the MOCA exam, but it's a dementia screening tool, not an IQ test," Reiner wrote on X. "A score of 26 or higher represents normal cognitive performance, not extreme intelligence. None of the questions are high difficulty."
The MOCA is scored on a 30-point scale and is typically used to detect mild cognitive impairment. Clinicians generally interpret a score of 26 or higher as within the normal range, while lower scores can prompt further evaluation. Because the MOCA is a screening instrument rather than a comprehensive cognitive battery, experts say it is not an appropriate measure to equate with "extreme intelligence."
Trump has previously publicized strong results from similar screenings. The exchange highlights a broader debate about how cognitive tests are used in public discussion of elected leaders and whether more rigorous or different types of assessments should be required for high office.
Source: Original post on Truth Social and commentary from Dr. Jonathan Reiner; coverage first appeared on Mediaite.
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