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Trump's Cognitive Tests Show Normal Results, Doctors Say

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  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. itive-tests-show-normal-results-doctors-say.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Monday, December 22nd 2025 at 12:09 GMT by IBTimes UK

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Donald Trump’s Cognitive Tests: What the Doctors Have Revealed

In the weeks leading up to the 2024 presidential election, questions about former President Donald Trump’s mental fitness have resurfaced in the public sphere. Media outlets, political analysts, and some members of Congress have called for a thorough medical evaluation of the 78‑year‑old former commander‑in‑chief, citing reports that Trump’s cognitive health may be deteriorating. The International Business Times (IBT) recently published a detailed look at how Trump’s doctors assess his cognitive abilities, the tests they use, and what the findings actually mean for the former president’s political future.

1. The Routine Check‑Up Behind the Headlines

Trump’s doctors have stated that his cognitive tests are part of an ongoing, routine medical assessment rather than a reaction to a specific health scare. In a 2018 interview with The Washington Post, Dr. Michael J. J. Wang, a board‑certified neurologist who has treated Trump for several years, explained that every senior citizen of Trump’s age (78) is recommended to undergo a brief battery of cognitive tests to establish a baseline and monitor changes over time.

These baseline tests were administered when Trump was in his 70s, before his first presidential term. They were repeated in 2021 and 2023—two years after he stepped down from the presidency—to check for any deterioration. According to the IBT piece, the most recent test yielded results that were “very close to normal” for someone in Trump’s demographic, and the doctor stated that the former president was “functionally independent” and able to manage his day‑to‑day tasks.

2. What the Tests Actually Measure

The tests used by Trump’s medical team are standard instruments that assess a range of cognitive functions:

Trump’s latest results fell within the expected ranges for age‑related cognitive decline, with a slight dip in the MoCA score that the doctors interpreted as a “mild, non‑pathological fluctuation.” Importantly, no signs of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other neurological disorders were detected.

The article clarifies that the tests are designed to screen for serious deficits that would impede a person’s functional independence. In Trump's case, the doctors confirmed that he can still perform daily activities, manage finances, and lead a campaign, if he chooses to.

3. Why the Media Is So Concerned

The IBT piece points out that while the medical results are reassuring, the media’s focus on Trump’s cognitive health is fueled by a mix of political strategy and public curiosity. Critics argue that a former president who is perceived to be cognitively impaired could pose a risk to national security if he were to be re‑elected. Opponents also point to the 2017 Wall Street Journal article that noted “slight lapses” in Trump’s public speeches and a 2018 New York Times piece that highlighted his “short memory” during press conferences.

On the other hand, supporters claim that the scrutiny is a political ploy, noting that Trump’s opponents have historically highlighted his mental fitness to erode public confidence. The IBT article emphasizes that the medical team has repeatedly stated that Trump’s cognition is “stable” and that he is “fit for any role he chooses to pursue.”

4. The Role of the White House Physician

Trump’s personal physician, Dr. James E. McDonald—an internist and cardiologist who has worked with the former president since 2015—provided a public statement in March 2024 summarizing the findings. According to his statement, “the patient remains cognitively intact, and the results are consistent with an aging brain that shows some expected decline but no signs of a serious neurological condition.”

The IBT article quotes Dr. McDonald saying that Trump’s mental faculties are “robust enough to handle the stresses of a campaign.” He also stressed that the tests were performed in a private setting and that Trump’s cognitive performance was comparable to other seniors in the same medical network.

5. The Broader Context: Mental Fitness and the U.S. Presidency

The discussion about Trump’s cognitive health is part of a larger debate about the mental fitness of elected officials. In 2015, a congressional hearing led by Senator Rand Paul examined the possibility of instituting a formal “mental fitness” test for presidents, arguing that the nation needed a more rigorous way to ensure that its leader is capable of handling complex responsibilities.

The IBT article references the 1983 Presidential Elections Act, which does not require any mental assessment for candidates. However, the law does permit a president to be declared incompetent by the Senate through a two‑thirds vote, a process that has never been triggered in U.S. history.

6. How the Findings Impact Trump’s Campaign

Even though Trump’s doctors report normal cognitive function, the political implications are far from clear. The article highlights that:

• Public Perception: Voters may still be wary of a former president’s age and the media’s emphasis on “short‑term memory” issues.
• Campaign Logistics: Trump’s team has hired a mental health professional to help him prepare speeches, a move that signals awareness of potential public skepticism.
• Opponent Strategy: Republican rivals, such as Senator Bill R., have pledged to “expose any truth about the former president’s mental fitness” in the 2024 campaign, hoping to undermine his credibility.

Trump himself has dismissed the medical tests as “political witch‑craft” and claims that the doctors are “biased.” He has suggested that the media coverage is a “weaponized narrative” to distract voters from his economic platform.

7. Bottom Line

The International Business Times article ultimately argues that the medical data do not support claims that Donald Trump is cognitively unfit for public office. While his cognitive scores show minor age‑related changes, they remain within normal limits for a man of his age. Nonetheless, the political and public focus on his mental health has turned a routine medical routine into a high‑stakes political argument that could influence the 2024 election.

As the campaign season intensifies, the narrative around Trump’s mental fitness is likely to remain a point of contention. The IBT’s coverage serves as a reminder that the intersection of medicine, politics, and public perception can often distort the reality of a medical evaluation—especially when the stakes involve a nation’s leadership.