Donald Trump 'aces' cognitive test, but these US Presidents have the 'highest IQ scores'

US President Donald Trump said he aced his cognitive test and got every answer correct during his annual physical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre. "I've never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
During a White House visit by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Trump shifted from immigration to bragging about his cognitive test.
"We have millions of people that should not be in this country, that are dangerous ... they’ve been allowed to come into our country from other countries that were very smart."
Referring to Biden, he added, “when they heard that this very low IQ president -- and by the way I took my cognitive exam as part of my physical exam, and I got the highest mark.” Trump told reporters, adding, “and one of the doctors said, ‘sir, I’ve never seen anyone get that kind of a -- that was the highest mark. .."

Donald Trump's bold claim about his cognitive prowess has reignited interest in presidential intelligence. As for Trump's estimated IQ, there is no verified or scholarly source that provides an official number.
Here’s a look at the top 11 smartest US Presidents of all time.
In 2006, UC Davis psychology professor Dean Simonton analyzed the "intellectual brilliance" of 42 US presidents. Since official IQ scores weren't available, he estimated them using personality traits from biographies - like curiosity, inventiveness, and insight. Libb Thims, an American engineer, who compiles high IQ scores as a hobby, later used this study to compile a list ranking the smartest US presidents.

Abraham Lincoln was appointed America's 16th president in 1861. The son of a Kentucky frontiersman, Lincoln's early days were full of hardships as he worked on a farm while also self-learning to read and write. According to Simonton's estimates, he had an IQ of 148. With his exceptional reasoning, eloquence, and self-taught intellect, despite having little formal education. He was the only president to have a patent after inventing a device to free steamboats that ran aground. Despite being self-educated, Lincoln received honorary degrees later in life, which included an honorary Doctor of Laws from Columbia University in 1861.
America's 21st president who served from 1881 to 1885, Chester Alan Arthur, succeeded James Garfield after he was assassinated in 1881. He is estimated to have an IQ of 148. A former lawyer and vice president from New York, he surprised many by championing civil service reform through the Pendleton Act, curbing the spoils system. His presidency also saw a major expansion of the US Navy and stricter immigration laws, including the Chinese Exclusion Act.
James Garfield, the 20th US president, had an IQ of 148, as per Simonton's estimates. Unfortunately, he was assassinated in 1882 and could serve for less than a year. A graduate of Williams College, Garfield achieved a lot even in his short presidency. He revitalized the US Navy, tackled corruption in the Post Office Department, and appointed several African Americans to key federal roles, according to White House records.

Youngest US President and one of the brightest at IQ of 149, Roosevelt was 43 when he swore in as the 26th President of US. Roosevelt graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard in 1880, then briefly studied law at Columbia, which he found unappealing. Roosevelt's intellect extended beyond politics. His first book, The Naval War of 1812, published in 1882, became a landmark work that influenced the rise of the modern US Navy.
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president with an estimated IQ of 152, was a key figure in the Progressive Movement. Formerly president of Princeton and governor of New Jersey, he championed anti-trust laws and created the Federal Trade Commission. He’s best known for his “Fourteen Points” speech and founding vision for the League of Nations.

The 39th president of the USA, he served from 1977-81. For his work in advancing human rights around the world, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He reportedly had an IQ of 153. He was a Naval Academy graduate and was elected Governor of Georgia in 1970. He is also remembered for the crucial policies he brought including a national energy policy and civil service reform.
James Madison, often called a father of the Constitution, had an estimated IQ of 155. A Princeton graduate, he co-authored the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights. Madison also served as Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson from 1801 to 1809. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817.
The 42nd President of USA, he served from 1993-2001. He had an IQ of 156 by Simonton's estimates. He graduated from Georgetown, won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, and earned a law degree from Yale in 1973. He was elected governor of Arkansas in 1978. He is best remembered for brokering peace in Ireland and the Balkans.

John F. Kennedy, the 35th US president, served from 1961 until his assassination in 1963 and had an estimated IQ of 158. A Harvard graduate and WWII Navy hero, he led the nation through Cold War crises like the Cuban Missile standoff and expanded the space program. Kennedy is remembered for his powerful rhetoric, economic reforms, and early efforts in civil rights and nuclear arms control.
Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd U.S. president and primary author of the Declaration of Independence, had an estimated IQ of 160. A Founding Father and champion of individual rights, he served as secretary of state, vice president, and then president from 1801 to 1809. Jefferson was also the founder of the Democratic-Republican Party and played a key role in shaping the early American republic.
John Adams, the second president from 1797 to 1801, had an estimated IQ of 173, the highest score for any US President, according to Simonton's estimates. A founding father and key revolutionary leader, Adams helped draft the Declaration of Independence and served as a diplomat in Europe. He was the first vice president under George Washington and the only president elected from the Federalist Party. Known for his defense of British soldiers after the Boston Massacre and his advocacy for the rule of law, Adams also authored the Massachusetts Constitution, which influenced the US Constitution.