President Donald Trump has called for mandatory cognitive examinations for anyone seeking the offices of President or Vice President of the United States.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, April 30, 2026, Trump stated: “Anybody running for President or Vice President should be forced to take a Cognitive Examination prior to entering the Race! By doing so, we wouldn’t be surprised at people like Barack ‘Hussein’ Obama, or Sleepy Joe Biden, getting ‘ELECTED.’
Our Country would be a much better place!”
Trump also referenced his own experience with such tests, claiming he had taken the examination three times during his presidency and “ACED IT ALL THREE TIMES,” describing it as a rare achievement according to doctors.
This latest statement aligns with Trump’s prior suggestions that presidential and vice-presidential candidates undergo cognitive (often referred to in this context as mental competency or fitness) testing to ensure they possess the necessary mental acuity for the role. He has previously made similar calls regarding opponents, including during the 2024 campaign cycle.
The proposal would require candidates to complete the test before officially entering the race, with the aim of avoiding the election of individuals Trump views as cognitively unfit. No formal legislative or constitutional mechanism currently mandates such testing for candidates.
