Former President Trump called for President Biden to undergo cognitive testing in a speech on Saturday, but forgot the name of the doctor who administered such a test to him.
In Detroit, Trump said that a “Dr. Lonnie Johnson” had administered the cognitive test to him and that he “got a perfect score.” The doctor in question was Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), who was later elected to the Texas Congress.
The gaffe underscores growing concerns among voters about the age of both candidates, who will become the oldest president in U.S. history after completing a second term, and who have both faced criticism over their memory and mental and physical health.
Former President Trump underwent standard cognitive testing in 2018, an assessment that asks patients to read and recall strings of words, identify shapes and perform other common tasks. The test is designed to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Trump touted his performance during a media tour in 2020.
Despite his shaky record of getting names wrong, the 78-year-old Trump has repeatedly demonstrated his mental strength. Some of the nation’s leading business leaders were “shocked” by his apparently incoherent speech during a closed-door meeting last week. CNBC reported:.
Biden, 81, has also had a history of getting his name wrong. A February poll found that about 90% of Americans believe a president is too old for a second term. More than 50% of respondents said both Biden and Trump are too old.
The president has largely ignored concerns about his age, telling voters he still thinks young.
Presidential polls show Trump and Biden neck and neck, with Trump leading Biden nationally by less than 1 percentage point, according to The Hill/Decision Desk polling average.
The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
