President Donald Trump has once again vigorously defended his cognitive abilities, telling a rally crowd he is in "perfect health" and has "aced" multiple mental fitness tests. The remarks come as scrutiny over the 79-year-old's health intensifies.
Rally Revelations on Cognitive Testing
Speaking at a rally in North Carolina on Friday 20 December 2025, Trump diverted from economic topics to detail his performance on cognitive assessments. He claimed to have taken three such tests and "aced every single one of them." The president suggested no other commander-in-chief had undergone similar examinations.
Trump provided an unusual insight into the testing process, describing a question where participants are shown images of animals. "The first question is like, 'What is this?' And they show a lion, a giraffe, a fish, and a hippopotamus," he recounted. He used the example to mock his predecessor, Joe Biden, suggesting he would fail to identify the giraffe.
Mounting Scrutiny Over Presidential Fitness
This public defence follows a series of incidents that have raised questions about the president's condition. These include appearing to fall asleep during a Cabinet meeting earlier this month and delivering a rambling 18-minute address from the White House on Wednesday. Furthermore, a controversial Truth Social post about late filmmaker Rob Reiner added to the concerns.
Trump addressed the October cognitive test directly, stating doctors at Walter Reed medical centre found him in "perfect health." He quoted medical staff as warning him about the potential media fallout, saying, "If you do well they won't report it. If you do badly it's going to be the biggest story in history."
Reactions and the Road Ahead
Despite his assertions, prominent figures have questioned Trump's mental sharpness. California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom's office suggested the president was "sundowning hard" in response to a clip of the speech. Representative Ted Lieu queried why doctors keep administering the tests.
Medical professionals have also weighed in. Dr. Jonathan Reiner, cardiologist for former Vice President Dick Cheney, told CNN that Trump's "manic cadence" during his Wednesday address was "very disturbing," adding, "We've never seen the president like that."
In a moment of concession, Trump admitted his faculties would not always be at their peak. "There will be a time when perhaps I won't be 100 percent," he told the North Carolina audience. He promised to be transparent, stating, "When that time comes, I'll let you know about it." For now, however, he insists he feels the same as he has for five decades.
