Trump’s “IQ Test” Challenge Accepted by Kimmel and Rep. Crockett

President Trump’s repeated claims of high scores on a recent cognitive test have prompted a public challenge from late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett, who both agreed to take the same test against him live on television.

The challenge originated from Trump’s Monday assertion that Democrats with “low IQ,” specifically naming Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jasmine Crockett, would be unable to pass the cognitive assessment he took at Walter Reed Medical Center. “You give [Ocasio-Cortez] an IQ test. Have her pass the exams that I decided to take. Let AOC go against Trump. Let Jasmine go against Trump,” Trump stated. Kimmel responded on his show, proposing “The James C. Kimmel Cognitive Aptitude and Mental Brilliance Invitational” and quickly secured Crockett’s participation.

During a video call with Kimmel yesterday, Representative Crockett stated, “I am very well aware” of the challenge, adding, “If he’s down, I’m down.” Crockett also pointed out a pattern in Trump’s criticisms, noting, “They tend to be women, and they tend to be women of color.” The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the test Trump referenced, is typically used as a screening tool and is not intended to be particularly difficult for adults; concerns have been raised regarding Trump’s characterization of the test as “very hard.” You can learn more about cognitive assessments from the National Institute on Aging.

Kimmel playfully tested Crockett with sample questions from the assessment, such as identifying an elephant in a drawing, and joked about her likely success. This public back-and-forth comes as scrutiny of candidates’ mental acuity becomes increasingly common in political discourse. Further details regarding the format and timing of the proposed televised event are expected to be announced in the coming days, and could potentially influence public perception of the candidates involved.