Should cognitive testing be a presidential prerequisite?

A growing chorus of pundits and candidates are pushing mental fitness challenges as a campaign necessity

Illustration of Joe Biden with cogs turning in his head
74% of respondents in a recent poll said presidential candidates of any age should have to pass a mental competency test
(Image credit: Illustrated / Getty Images)

It's little secret that former President Donald Trump is particularly proud of — in his own words — his "very, very large brain." Trump's aura of mental satisfaction is particularly noticeable when he is on the campaign trail — most recently at the Pray Vote Stand summit in Washington DC, where he derided President Biden as "cognitively impaired" before accusing the White House of risking "World War II."

Asked this past weekend by Meet The Press moderator Kristen Welker whether there should be an age limit on the presidency, Trump, 77, demurred, saying that while neither he nor Biden were themselves too old to hold office, "there should be a competency. I’m all for the test." But, he acknowledged, "a lot of people say that can’t happen because of Constitution."

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Rafi Schwartz, The Week US

Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.