President Donald Trump has a long history of bragging about his intellect. He calls himself a “very stable genius” and a “high-IQ person” and insists he’s smarter than anyone else.
So, it was no surprise during a campaign rally when Trump started crowing about how smart he is.
But even for Trump, his claims at the rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on Saturday were truly outrageous, critics contend.
He’s been on the road for days ahead of the upcoming midterms, trying to drum up support for embattled Republicans in states he handily won in 2024.
He’s also trying to convince voters that the affordability crisis is a “hoax.” He’s still blaming his disastrous economy on former President Joe Biden almost two years into his second term.
Trump acknowledges that his war on Iran drives oil and gas prices skyward, but he keeps promising that prices will drop soon. Now he says “right after the midterm.” Since last March, he has also repeatedly promised that his war is “ending soon.”
So, Americans could expect him to once again claim they aren’t really hurting and that any pain they feel is worth it for a nuclear-free Iran.
“I know more about inflation. I know more about everything than anybody in this room, anybody anywhere in the world,” he nonsensically declared.
Then he seemed to try to make a joke but couldn’t bring himself to follow through.
“Well, there’s a woman sitting right over there,” he said, pointing out into the audience, “She’s a housewife, but she’s very good. She’s got a natural instinct for business. She perhaps knows more than I do,” he started to say, before he couldn’t help himself. “But I actually don’t think so.”
But he wasn’t done praising himself. Later in his speech, he claimed again, “I’m a high-IQ person,” as the crowd laughed at him, “unlike some other people I can tell you about.”
“Among the highest IQs anywhere in the world,” he crowed.
Social media, of course, disagreed with his self-assessment, calling him everything from “demented” to “delusional.”
“This guy loves nobody more than himself, thinks nobody is smarter than himself, he’s so full of himself. I’m surprised there’s room for anything else at all. Someone taught this guy he was the center of the universe and should be the center of everybody else’s universe. It’s both fascinating and repelling all at the same time. I’ve never seen anything like it,” a disgusted X user declared.
This poster agreed, “Yes, he actually is so demented as to believe and say idiotic things without any doubt!”
Others piled on.
“Dementia patient is delusional.”
Another commenter pointed out in all seriousness, “If nothing else, this display of unabashed perceived superiority over everyone should worry any sane person. When he’s the US President, even more so.”
Trump has been bragging about his cognitive superiority since last year, after taking three cognitive tests. He has claimed repeatedly he has “aced” the tests, but it seems Trump has confused IQ tests with cognitive exams.
He underwent three cognitive exams last year over about eight months.
Doctors use the tests Trump repeatedly references to diagnose dementia and other potential illnesses related to mental decline. Anyone without mental impairment can complete them easily.
Taking three of them within an eight-month period, as Trump did between April and November in 2025, usually means doctors are trying to confirm a diagnosis.
Trump, who is out on the stump for Republicans, either doesn’t realize the difference or he doesn’t care.
He brings up his “high IQ” constantly as he tours red states, trying to help Republicans who are slumping in polls under the harsh glare of Trump’s disastrous policies and ongoing war in Iran.
