Fact Check: "Donald Trump has a low IQ"
What We Know
The claim that "Donald Trump has a low IQ" is primarily based on speculation and anecdotal evidence rather than verified data. Donald Trump himself has made various statements about his intelligence, often boasting that his IQ is higher than those of his political opponents and public figures, such as Barack Obama and Rex Tillerson (BBC). However, he has never publicly disclosed his actual IQ score.
In May 2019, a rumor circulated claiming that Trump's IQ was as low as 73, based on a purported discovery of an IQ test result from his time at the New York Military Academy (Snopes). This claim was linked to an image that appeared to show a newspaper clipping, but it was later determined to be a fabrication with no credible source backing it up (Snopes).
Experts have pointed out that intelligence is multifaceted and cannot be accurately represented by a single number. Dr. Frank Lawlis, a psychologist from Mensa, noted that intelligence tests measure specific skills and that someone considered a genius might not perform well on standard IQ tests due to their unconventional thinking (BBC).
Analysis
The claim that Trump has a low IQ lacks credible evidence. The assertion of a score of 73 appears to stem from a fabricated story with no reliable documentation. Snopes, a well-regarded fact-checking organization, found no credible sources to support the claim and identified the supposed newspaper clipping as a meme designed to disparage Trump (Snopes).
Moreover, the BBC article discusses the complexities of measuring intelligence and highlights that Trump's business success suggests a certain level of intelligence, although it does not provide a definitive assessment of his IQ (BBC).
The sources discussing Trump's intelligence vary in credibility. While the BBC is a reputable news organization, Snopes is known for its rigorous fact-checking. Other sources, such as Full Fact, also concluded that there is no evidence supporting the claim that Trump scored 73 on an IQ test (Full Fact).
Conclusion
The claim that "Donald Trump has a low IQ" is Unverified. There is no credible evidence to substantiate this assertion, and the most cited figure of 73 appears to be based on a fabricated story. While Trump's intelligence has been a topic of public debate, any definitive claims about his IQ remain speculative and unsupported by verified data.
