Donald Trump’s IQ controversy: How true is the 73 score?

A claim that Donald Trump’s IQ score was a dangerously low 73 during his first year at New York Military Academy has resurfaced on social media. The claim, originating from an alleged newspaper clipping, suggests that such a score would point to mental impairment. However, this viral information is based on a debunked piece of false reporting, which was first fact-checked by Snopes in 2019. Despite no public disclosure of Trump's actual IQ score, the former president has often ridiculed his political opponents, calling them "low-IQ" individuals.

The False Newspaper Clipping

The viral claim that Trump has an IQ of 73 comes from an old, debunked newspaper clipping that features a quote from William Askew Jr., who purportedly found the document while cleaning his late father’s apartment. Askew explained that his father had worked as the school counsellor at New York Military Academy (NYMA) from 1955 to 1985. According to Askew, the clipping was related to an IQ test Trump allegedly took during his time at the academy. Askew stated, “Dad was the school counselor at NYMA from 1955 to 1985. He didn’t administer these tests, but he was in charge of collecting them and sending them to the grading office.”

The newspaper clipping implied that the IQ score was in the process of being authenticated in 2019, but Snopes quickly debunked the claim. They confirmed that the article, featuring Askew’s quote, did not appear in any legitimate newspaper or verified publication. Snopes labelled the entire story as fiction, debunking it as baseless misinformation.

The Resurgence of the Claim

Despite being disproven years ago, the false claim about Trump’s IQ has resurfaced on social media platforms like X. The circulation of this information prompted a wave of responses from Republicans who dismissed the claim as absurd. One user on X responded with sarcasm, saying, “We know Trump doesn’t have an IQ of 73 because he isn’t a Democrat.”

Others took a more direct approach to mocking the viral claim. “Any idiot would know that an IQ of 73 would literally make him severely mentally handicapped and living in a group home. But the left is willing to buy anything that reinforces their beliefs,” one X user commented. This response highlights how widely the claim is rejected as unfounded and how it is seen as an attempt to undermine the former president without evidence.

Republican Pushback and Mockery

As the false claim spread further, additional posts ridiculed anyone who might believe it. One X user wrote, “You would need an IQ of 73 to believe that anyone with an IQ of 73 could do anything, forget being a billionaire president.” This mockery points to the logical inconsistency of the claim, with many dismissing it as ludicrous and far-fetched.

The continued circulation of the debunked IQ claim has sparked significant backlash from Trump supporters and Republicans. Their response reflects not just disbelief at the claim but also a broader criticism of how misinformation can spread, particularly in politically charged environments.

Trump’s IQ: The Unanswered Question

While Donald Trump has never released his official IQ score, he has frequently ridiculed his opponents by calling them "low-IQ." Over the years, Trump has often made such remarks about Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and other political figures. However, the former president has kept his personal IQ score private, never confirming or denying any specific number. The controversy around this unverified score continues to fuel public debate, especially with the repeated circulation of debunked claims.

Despite the persistence of the viral claim about Donald Trump’s IQ, there is no factual basis to the story. The claim, originating from a false newspaper clipping, has been thoroughly debunked by fact-checkers such as Snopes.