Memory Lapse? Trump Botches Name of His Cognitive Test Doctor
By Jake Beardslee ·
June 16, 2024
Detroit, MI - In yet another sign that age remains a central issue in the 2024 presidential race, former President Donald Trump fumbled the name of the doctor who administered his cognitive test during a campaign speech on Saturday. Max Curran/The Palm Beach Post / USA TODAY NETWORK
Challenging President Joe Biden to a similar assessment, Trump stated that "Doc Ronny Johnson" gave him a cognitive test that he "aced," The Hill reported. SUCHAT PEDERSON/DELAWARE NEWS JOURNAL / USA TODAY NETWORK
However, the physician's name is actually Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), the former White House doctor who oversaw Trump's 2018 evaluation. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY
The verbal slip reignited long-simmering worries about the mental capacities of Trump, 78, and Biden, 81, whose advanced ages would make either the oldest president to serve a second term. Joe Biden: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America (source: Joe Biden); User:TDKR Chicago 101 (clipping)Donald Trump: Shealah Craighead (source: White House)Сombination: krassotkin / Wikimedia
As CNBC recently reported, some top business leaders were "shocked" by Trump's "rambling" comments at a private meeting last week. Max Curran/The Palm Beach Post / USA TODAY NETWORK
Trump has repeatedly brandished his cognitive test results as proof of superior mental prowess. In his characteristic style, he proclaimed in 2020: “And they were very surprised. They said, that’s an unbelievable thing. Rarely does anybody do what you just did. But he should take that same test.” Max Curran/The Palm Beach Post / USA TODAY NETWORK
Yet the former president has developed a pattern of muddling names, from reportedly struggling to remember senior staff to erroneously identifying public figures like "Doc Ronny Johnson." Max Curran/The Palm Beach Post / USA TODAY NETWORK
Biden, meanwhile, has previously waved off age-related attacks with the line: "Watch me. It's all I can say," when questioned on PBS Newshour about his age and fitness. Jasper Colt / USA TODAY NETWORK
Still, nearly 90% of Americans believe Biden is too old for a second term, per a February survey, and over half feel the same about Trump, according to an ABC News/Ipsos poll. Adam Schultz / Wikimedia
With the two frontrunners locked in a virtual tie, any perceived stumble could sway an election where mental sharpness has emerged as a pivotal issue. Staff Sgt. Marianique Santos / Wikimedia
Both campaigns can expect the age question to persist. Max Curran/The Palm Beach Post / USA TODAY NETWORK
