When Donald Trump was being treated for a gunshot wound to his ear in July, he made an unusual request to the doctor: he wanted a copy of his brain scan. According to a new book, Trump said this was because the scan was “like an IQ test.” He seemed to believe that if the scan showed his brain looked normal, it would prove he was smart.
This happened on the day someone tried to assassinate him in Butler, Pennsylvania. After getting the scan, Trump reportedly walked down the hallway with a group of Secret Service agents. He then asked to see the “film” from the scan. The doctor explained that brain scans aren’t given out on film anymore and offered to give him a written report instead. But Trump insisted: “I want the film.”
One of his campaign managers, Susie Wiles, left to get the images for him. While she was gone, one of Trump’s aides asked him why he wanted them so badly. Trump replied that the scan was like an IQ test — it shows your brain is in good shape, and he wanted to have that proof.
Wiles eventually got the images, put them in an envelope, and tucked them into her bag.
Doctors say brain CT scans are not designed to measure intelligence. They’re mostly used to check for things like tumors, bleeding, or damage. While some research suggests that certain types of brain scans, like MRIs, can give hints about cognitive ability, even those don’t directly measure IQ.
Trump has long shown a deep interest in IQ and has even bragged about having a high one. At the time, he was in a tight presidential race against Joe Biden. Many people were questioning Biden’s mental fitness, but Trump was also facing criticism about his own abilities.
About a week after the incident, Biden dropped out of the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris took his place as the Democratic candidate. Trump went on to win the election, but questions about his mental sharpness haven’t gone away.
HuffPost tried to contact Trump’s team to comment on the story but hasn’t received a response yet.
