Trump's Bizarre Utterance: Person, Woman, Man, Camera, Tv

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump claimed that he had aced a cognitive test, stating that he had to remember the words person, woman, man, camera, TV in the correct order. Trump boasted about his performance on the test, which is designed to detect signs of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, as proof of his mental acuity and to question the mental fitness of his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden. Trump's comments sparked ridicule and concerns about his own capacity, with some physicians noting that the test does not measure what he claims and that the specific word sequence he cited is not actually part of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test.

Trump's cognitive test

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump faced questions about his mental fitness for office. In response, he took a cognitive test, specifically the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), which is designed to detect signs of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or other conditions.

Trump repeatedly brought up his performance on the test as a way to tout his mental acuity and question the cognitive abilities of his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden. During an interview with Fox News, Trump explained that the test involved repeating a series of five words in the correct order: "person, woman, man, camera, TV." He claimed that getting the words in order was worth extra points and that he found the task easy.

Trump's description of the test drew ridicule and concern, with some interpreting it as a sign of his own cognitive decline. The test's creator, Canadian neurologist Ziad Nasreddine, stated that the five-word sequence mentioned by Trump ("person, woman, man, camera, TV") would never be used in the MoCA test. Nasreddine explained that the words in the test are selected through scientific study and are random, unrelated words.

Trump's mental acuity

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump repeatedly boasted about his performance on a cognitive test, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), which he claimed demonstrated his mental acuity. During an interview on Fox News, Trump explained that the test involved remembering a series of five words in the correct order: "person, woman, man, camera, TV".

Trump's comments were part of his strategy to question the mental acuity of his presumptive Democratic opponent in the 2020 election, former Vice President Joe Biden, whom he portrayed as mentally unfit for office. Trump insisted that the test was difficult and that he had aced it, stating that he received extra points for getting the words in the correct order.

However, Trump's efforts to showcase his mental agility backfired, drawing ridicule and reinforcing concerns about his own capacity. The test he took is designed to detect signs of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or other conditions. It is not meant to be a measure of intelligence or IQ. The test's inventor, neurologist Ziad Nasreddine, stated that the words used in the test are selected through scientific study and are not linkable, contrary to Trump's example of closely related words.

Trump's focus on his cognitive test and his insistence on touting his mental acuity became a notable aspect of his 2020 re-election campaign, with many questioning his fitness for office.

Trump's dementia test

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump claimed that he had aced a cognitive test, which he said was proof of his mental acuity. In an interview with Fox News, Trump explained that the test was difficult, and that it involved repeating five words in the same order: "person, woman, man, camera, TV". Trump said that listing the words in order was worth "extra points", and that he found the task easy. He boasted that the doctors were amazed by his performance, saying, "That's amazing. How did you do that?".

However, the test that Trump took, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), is actually meant to detect signs of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or other conditions. The test includes recalling a list of five random words after five minutes, with the words being chosen over years of scientific study. According to Ziad Nasreddine, the Canadian neurologist who invented the MoCA, the words would not include closely related terms like "woman" and "man", or "camera" and "TV". Nasreddine also stated that Trump's description of the test included details that were not part of the actual assessment, such as identifying animals.

Trump's public discussion of his cognitive test was part of his strategy to question the mental acuity of his presumptive Democratic opponent in the 2020 election, Joe Biden. Trump repeatedly attacked Biden's mental acuity during his re-election campaign, labelling him as "old and out of it". However, Trump's focus on cognitive tests and his insistence on proving his mental sharpness ended up drawing attention to his own mental state, with some expressing concern about his capacity and fitness for office.

Trump's mental health

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump faced questions about his mental acuity and cognitive health. In response, Trump revealed that he had taken a cognitive test, specifically the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), which he claimed to have ""aced". In interviews with Fox News, Trump described the test as "difficult", with one of the questions requiring him to remember and repeat the following five words: "person, woman, man, camera, TV". Trump's ability to recall these words in the correct order, for which he claimed to have received ""extra points", was, according to him, indicative of his good mental health and memory.

Trump's insistence on bringing up his cognitive test results and his pride in his mental agility were attempts to question the mental acuity of his presumptive Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, whom he portrayed as mentally unfit for office. However, Trump's efforts backfired, with many finding his behaviour concerning and reinforcing doubts about his own mental capacity. The fact that he even took the test suggested to some that he, or his doctor, was worried about his mental decline.

Trump's cognitive health was a significant topic of discussion during his presidency, with his mental state described as "the elephant in the room" for Republicans. His niece, Mary Trump, claimed in a book that, in addition to potential age-related impairments, Trump had an undiagnosed learning disability that hindered his processing and absorption of information. Trump's behaviour and performance during interviews and public appearances, where he often struggled to read written remarks, further fuelled concerns about his mental health and fitness for office.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a screening test designed to detect mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. It includes various sections that focus on memory, basic math, language, and executive function. According to the Canadian neurologist who invented the test, Ziad Nasreddine, the words "person, woman, man, camera, TV" would never have been included together in the MoCA as they are closely related words. Nasreddine also emphasised that the test is "serious" and "scientifically validated", expressing dismay at its ridicule in the media.

Trump's fitness for office

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump stated that he had taken a cognitive test as part of a bid to prove his mental acuity and fitness for office. The test in question was the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), which is used to detect signs of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or other cognitive impairments.

Trump repeatedly brought up his performance on the test, specifically his ability to recall the words "person, woman, man, camera, TV" in the correct order. He claimed that this was a difficult task that demonstrated his mental agility and that he had earned extra points for getting the words in the correct sequence. However, this particular sequence of words is not used in the MoCA, as the actual words are selected through scientific study and are not closely related.

Trump's focus on this test and his insistence on touting his performance as proof of his mental fitness raised concerns among some observers. They questioned why the president felt the need to repeatedly bring up the topic, especially as the test is designed to assess cognitive decline. Trump's former national security advisor, John Bolton, stated that he did not think Trump was fit for office, doubting his competence to carry out the job.

Trump's cognitive test became a highly publicized issue during his presidency, with some critics arguing that it reflected poorly on his fitness for office. The incident added to a larger conversation about Trump's mental health and stability, with some psychiatrists and political figures expressing concerns about his self-absorption, lack of empathy, chronic untruthfulness, and apparent inability to distinguish right from wrong.

Frequently asked questions