Trump says he ‘aced’ cognitive examination test with perfect results

President Donald Trump kicked off 2026 by saying White House doctors have given him a clean bill of health.

“The White House doctors just announced that I am in ‘PERFECT HEALTH’ and that I ‘ACED’ (meaning I was correct on 100% of the questions asked!), for the third time in a row, my cognitive exam, something that no other president, nor previous vice president, was willing to take,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social article on Friday.

“PS, I firmly believe that anyone running for president or vice president should be required to take a robust, meaningful and proven cognitive test,” he added. “Our great country cannot be led by ‘STUPID’ or INCOMPETENT PEOPLE!”

JAKE TAPPER Suggests He’s Covering Up Trump’s Age To Make Up For His Forgetting Biden

President Donald Trump speaks during the New Year’s Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, December 31, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, 2026, is facing increasing scrutiny over his health, which was the focus of his recent interview with The Wall Street Journal. He told the newspaper he regretted undergoing advanced imaging in October, saying it opened the door to increased questions about his health.

“In retrospect, it’s a shame I took it because it gave them a little ammunition,” Trump told the Journal. “I would have been a lot better off if they hadn’t done it, because the fact that I took it was like, ‘Oh my God, is something wrong?’ Well, it’s all good.”

In October, Trump underwent a cardiovascular and abdominal scan, which Navy Capt. Sean P. Barbabella, the president’s physician, noted in a memorandum to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

In his report, Barbabella said the assessment, which he described as part of the president’s “continuing health maintenance plan,” included advanced imaging, laboratory tests and preventative health assessments. Barbabella said “Trump continues to demonstrate excellent overall health” and noted that the president “continues to maintain a demanding daily schedule without restriction.”

Leavitt read Barbabella’s report during a press briefing on December 1. The summary read by Leavitt noted that “advanced imaging was performed because men in his age group benefit from a thorough assessment of their cardiovascular and abdominal health.” The summary said the imaging was performed as a preventative measure “to quickly identify any problems, confirm general health, and ensure that the President maintains long-term vitality and function.”

The summary said Trump’s cardiovascular and abdominal images were “perfectly normal.” Additionally, he said that “all major organs appear very healthy.”

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign event Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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While Trump has maintained that the checks and speculation about his health were unwarranted, the Journal reported that those close to the president said they had to speak loudly in meetings because he had difficulty hearing. The outlet also noted that the president had been criticized for appearing to fall asleep during recent events at the White House, which Trump denies.

Trump told the Journal that he hasn’t fallen asleep during recent events, saying he likes to close his eyes because he finds it “very relaxing.” He also blamed some incidents on the timing of the photos, saying that “Sometimes they take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they catch me blinking.” »

The president also denied having difficulty with his hearing. The Journal reported that “Trump became sarcastic” when asked about it, saying “I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you. I can’t hear a word you’re saying.” He then says that he sometimes has trouble hearing “when there are a lot of people talking.”

Then-President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with then-President Joe Biden during Trump’s inauguration in the Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025. (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)

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Health care was a central issue in the 2024 presidential race, particularly before then-President Joe Biden stepped down. Trump has often accused Biden of hiding the true extent of his health problems from the public.

Speculation about Biden’s difficulties has been fueled by his lack of interactions with the press and his reluctance to participate in unscripted exchanges. The 46th president’s apparent cognitive issues became increasingly evident when he struggled during a debate with Trump in June 2024. During the debate, Biden appeared to lose his train of thought and stumbled over words.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.