Michael Wolff told the Inside Trump's Head podcast that President Trump’s greatest fear is being perceived as unintelligent, and that secrecy around his academic records may stem from that anxiety. Wolff and former aide Steve Bannon speculated that Trump’s unreleased college transcripts could be used as leverage by foreign powers, including Vladimir Putin. Trump has publicly defended his intellect, citing a relative who taught at MIT and asserting a high IQ. Wolff said this perceived lack of intellectual depth helps explain aspects of Trump’s behavior.
Michael Wolff: Trump’s Biggest Fear Is Being Seen As 'Stupid' — Could His College Transcripts Be Leverage?
Photo Illustration by Victoria Sunday/The Daily Beast/Getty Images
Michael Wolff, the author and longtime biographer of Donald Trump, told the podcast Inside Trump's Head that the president’s paramount fear is being perceived as unintelligent. Wolff said that fear helps explain the secrecy around Trump’s academic records and even suggested — with others — that those records could be potential leverage.
Michael Wolff says President Donald Trump’s former adviser, Steve Bannon, has theorized that Vladimir Putin may hold something over Trump. / Steven Hirsch / via REUTERS
Wolff And Bannon Raise The Transcript Theory
On the podcast, Wolff said former Trump adviser Steve Bannon raised the possibility that foreign leaders could exploit Trump's unreleased academic transcripts. Wolff recalled their conversation:
Trump boasts about his performance on a simple dementia test. / Truth Social/Donald Trump
"Steve Bannon and I were talking about what Putin might have on Trump, and Bannon went through all the things dismissing them. He said, what I think he has on him are his college transcripts."
What Records Are Missing
Trump's academic records from Fordham University and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania have not been publicly released, despite repeated attempts to locate them during the 2016 campaign. Co-host Joanna Coles noted the secrecy:
"We haven't seen his high school transcripts. We haven't seen either of his college transcripts. They have been so successful in locking that stuff down. And, you know, if they were good, he would have floated them out there immediately."
Sam Nunberg was fired from Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign after racist Facebook comments resurfaced. / Joshua Roberts/REUTERS
Wolff's Central Claim: Fear Of Appearing 'Stupid'
Wolff argued that one of Trump's central anxieties is being seen as stupid. He stated bluntly:
"I think top of his list, top of the things that plagues him is being seen as stupid, for one reason: Because he is stupid."Wolff framed this claim as part of a broader discussion of the fears that, in his view, shape Trump's behavior.
Donald Trump never passes up an opportunity to remind his followers that he is smart. / Truth Social/Donald Trump
Trump's Public Response
Trump has repeatedly defended his intellect in public statements, at times insisting he has a very high IQ and referring to an uncle who taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In a recent interview he said:
"I have the highest of IQs. I have the highest. I'm fine, and I understand that stuff...my uncle was at MIT for 41 years...I believe in genetics, frankly, and I understand."
Background Anecdote And Reactions
Wolff also recounted an early moment while researching his book Fire and Fury, when former Trump aide Sam Nunberg told him bluntly that Trump was an "idiot," a remark Wolff says crystallized his concerns about Trump's apparent lack of intellectual depth. The White House did not respond to requests for comment on Wolff's remarks.
Where To Hear More
Wolff and co-host Joanna Coles discussed these and other fears on the Inside Trump's Head podcast. New episodes are available on YouTube and major podcast platforms.
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