Former President Donald Trump questioned President Joe Biden’s mental acuity during a speech at the Turning Point Action convention in Detroit. He suggested that Biden should take a cognitive test, referencing the test he took during his presidency. However, Trump confused the name of the doctor who administered his cognitive test, calling him Ronny Johnson instead of Ronny Jackson. Trump has made questioning Biden’s fitness for a second term a centerpiece of his campaign, but critics quickly pointed out his gaffe, with the Biden campaign reposting the moment on social media.
Ronny Jackson, the doctor Trump was referring to, served as the White House physician during part of Trump’s presidency and is now a Republican congressman from Texas. Jackson has been one of Trump’s most vocal defenders on Capitol Hill. The cognitive test Trump took in 2018 was at his own request and is known as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, designed to detect early signs of memory loss and mild cognitive impairment. Tasks on the test include remembering words, listening to random numbers, naming words that start with a specific letter, drawing a cube, and describing similarities between objects.
Critics of Biden’s cognitive abilities have been met with pushback from the Biden campaign, who argue that verbal missteps do not reflect his ability to lead the country. Biden, who has been open about his struggle with stuttering, has dismissed concerns about his cognitive abilities and points to his accomplishments in office as evidence of his competence. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, both candidates’ mental fitness will continue to be a topic of debate.
In a recent appearance on the David Packman Show, psychologist Harry Segal from Cornell University expressed concerns about Trump’s mental capabilities, stating that his cognitive decline poses a danger on top of an already erratic and mentally challenged individual who should not be near the White House. With the 2024 election approaching, both candidates’ mental fitness will likely be a key focus of discussion. Trump’s recent gaffe while attempting to challenge Biden’s cognitive abilities may have undermined his own argument and provided ammunition for his critics. The debate over the mental acuity of both candidates will surely continue throughout the campaign.
