# What is Donald Trump's IQ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521 "2017-10-10T22:11:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/101 "2017-10-13T22:54:34Z")
Based on all evidence Trump once had a roughly average IQ, and a respectable amount of savvy. His IQ, and his savvy, have both dropped _dramatically_ since then. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/102 "2017-10-14T02:10:02Z")
You guys are gonna freak out. “Article” on the net today. Gave the estimated IQ of many famous people. Stephen Hawking 160 Obama 140 His wife Michelle 125 And Trump? 156…I kid you not. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/103 "2017-10-14T02:19:17Z")
They would have to prove that to me, some how. He probably paid for that number. My dog is smarter than he is, she actually learns from her mistakes and understands the word ‘no’!! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/104 "2017-10-14T02:25:05Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > You guys are gonna freak out. > > “Article” on the net today. Gave the estimated IQ of many famous people. > > Stephen Hawking 160 > > Obama 140 > > His wife Michelle 125 > > And Trump? > > 156…I kid you not. Maybe they forgot the decimal point. I’d believe 15.6 ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/105 "2017-10-14T02:57:45Z")
I would argue his Father as evidenced by his business empire and his uncle, a Professor and MIT physicist and electrical engineer were both highly intelligent individuals. Trump is probably a little above average, but I definitely don’t think he’s some genius or even close. He is probably a great manipulator and has high Machiavellian traits from his business dealings, which like anything else does require a skill set. He does seem intellectually lazy and probably never had much reason to learn about a lot of things. What shocks me is that a man of his age appears to have such a limited vocabulary, any interview I’ve seen of him he seems to use the same adjectives and grammar so I don’t think this was a recent affectation for the benefit of his voters. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/106 "2017-10-14T03:15:31Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > You guys are gonna freak out. > > “Article” on the net today. Gave the estimated IQ of many famous people. > > Stephen Hawking 160 > > Obama 140 > > His wife Michelle 125 > > And Trump? > > 156…I kid you not. Estimated? Who’s doing the estimating? Some reason you didn’t link? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/107 "2017-10-14T03:28:30Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Estimated? Who’s doing the estimating? Some guy named John Miller. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/108 "2017-10-14T03:31:03Z")
> [@Corry\_El](#): > > No Trump’s concrete successes are not IQ tests, obviously. But they are applications of mental talent. Not really, no. Being rich in the United States, when your parents were rich is the overwhelmingly likely scenario, where you’d expect a person of average or less intelligence to reach. Adjusted for inflation he’s not a lot richer than his father was, maybe less. Now, not every kid of rich parents ends up as a minor celebrity, true. But not every kid has the many failures and bankruptcies Trump has had either. So his business record is somewhat inconclusive. So I ask for a third time: We have thousands of hours of video of Trump. Where’s the best example of him demonstrating understanding of a complex idea, or nuance, or even quick wits. If you can find one, then I’ll never say a negative thing about Trump on here again. > [@](#): > > Trump might have a low or high IQ score, I don’t know. But in his way he’s very clever, that’s for sure, IMO. I would agree that IQ tests can’t capture all aspects of intelligence, it’s true. But no I see no reason to suppose trump is clever. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/109 "2017-10-14T03:31:04Z")
> [@pool](#): > > What shocks me is that a man of his age appears to have such a limited vocabulary, any interview I’ve seen of him he seems to use the same adjectives and grammar so I don’t think this was a recent affectation for the benefit of his voters. This is what gets me. I’ve never heard any other highly intelligent person use language the way that Trump uses language. ---
**Author:** ![LongTimeLurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@LongTimeLurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LongTimeLurker)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/110 "2017-10-14T06:45:37Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > He is a moron. Smarter people than me say so! +1 ---
**Author:** ![LongTimeLurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@LongTimeLurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LongTimeLurker)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/111 "2017-10-14T06:48:04Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I think he’d score horribly on a standard IQ test. It’s not so much regular stupidity as it is a complete lack of any sort of intellectual curiosity and a complete inability to apply any sort of attention or focus to anything that he doesn’t have an emotional connection to – which is limited to 1.Stuff people say about Trump 2. Stuff that makes Trump look like a loser 3. People of color that do stuff. It doesn’t matter what they do, it’s sure to piss off Trump. > > But can you imagine him focusing on standard IQ test questions long enough to answer them? Or actually trying to work through a problem? It’s easier to imagine a dog doing a crossword puzzle. My dog is offended. ---
**Author:** ![LongTimeLurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@LongTimeLurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LongTimeLurker)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/112 "2017-10-14T06:51:35Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > [This article](https://www.statnews.com/2017/05/23/donald-trump-speaking-style-interviews/) is somewhat speculative, but it compares his present-day speaking style (vocabulary, syntax and the complexity of his sentences) to his speaking style from 25 or 30 years ago. (Trump has been a public figure, at least in the New York area, since the early 1980s, so there is a lot of interviews and other television appearances to draw upon.) > > The conclusion of this analysis is that there does seem to be signs of cognitive decline. The decline is in why anyone would vote for him. ---
**Author:** ![LongTimeLurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@LongTimeLurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LongTimeLurker)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/113 "2017-10-14T07:04:06Z")
[quote=“Mijin, post:41, topic:798521”] Firstly, this is a misconception of what IQ is. It’s not a superpower that means you’re mentally superior in every way. It’s possible to have a low IQ and be charming say, and vice versa. Or if I’ve read some good books on chess strategy, and you have not, I will likely beat you at chess even if your IQ is higher than mine because it’s not a test of IQ. And the same applies to success in business, say. (If we could even say he’s been successful in business) Secondly, I think a lot of the reason he was successful was _because_ he blurted out nonsense and had little understanding of complex issues; much of the public feels the same way. Now, _if_ indeed this was a deliberate feint by him, and he just played the role of a dumb guy because he knew it would get him elected, then I would be right behind you; he is sly as a fox. But all the evidence right now points to him being a (fucking) moron who got elected because this time round enough people wanted to elect a moron.[ A fucking moron voted into office by idiots. My question is, after the nuclear holocaust can I still get arrested for wishing Trump dead? ---
**Author:** ![LongTimeLurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@LongTimeLurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LongTimeLurker)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/114 "2017-10-14T07:14:39Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > This, at least in part. He rode a gigantic wave of [anti-intellectualism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-intellectualism) and xenophobia right into the oval office. It also helped that H.R. Clinton did her level best to alienate every voter she could: > > -she _literally_ told coal miners she would put them out of work > > -she referred to Republicans as her enemies during a debate > > -she dismissed a large portion of Trump’s supporters as a “basket of deplorables” > > She has steadfastly blamed Comey’s late revelation about her emails, but had she not been so undiplomatic toward potential voters, I think she probably would have kept enough margin to win the electoral vote, despite Trump’s anti-intellectual appeal. And the truth lost her the election. 63 million people voted for a racist misogynist instead of an experienced politician. I still don’t understand who they thought they were hurting when they voted for Trump. They fucked themselves and the rest of their neighbors that knew better. Trump’s legacy will always be that he turned neighbors into enemies. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/115 "2017-10-14T14:21:55Z")
> [@LongTimeLurker](#): > > And the truth lost her the election. 63 million people voted for a racist misogynist instead of an experienced politician. I still don’t understand who they thought they were hurting when they voted for Trump. They fucked themselves and the rest of their neighbors that knew better. Trump’s legacy will always be that he turned neighbors into enemies. Well said. Still the Great Mystery. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/116 "2017-10-14T14:29:06Z")
> [@LongTimeLurker](#): > > I still don’t understand who they thought they were hurting when they voted for Trump. Well, let’s start with how Trump announced his candidacy, I guess: do you believe they thought they’d hurt _illegals,_ and would-be illegals, by voting for Trump? ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/117 "2017-10-14T14:37:07Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Estimated? Who’s doing the estimating? > Some reason you didn’t link? He’s almost certainly talking about this. > **[FACT CHECK: Is This Donald Trump's Intelligence Quotient?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/donald-trumps-intelligence-quotient/)** > > A chart purportedly showing Donald Trump's IQ ranking compared to other Presidents is based on incomplete and inaccurate information. With respect to the question, Trump is clearly not very intelligent. He has no hallmarks of higher intelligence. His speech patterns range from basic to byzantine. His much self-professed vocabulary (“I have the best words”) is very poor. He has seemingly little intellectual curiosity. I’d say he’s probably about average, maybe a little under, maybe a little over. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/118 "2017-10-15T01:27:02Z")
And to bring up another side to Trump, he has married some of the most bizarre women. What is really wrong with him? I have feeling it may be organic. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/119 "2017-10-15T03:31:51Z")
I’ll have to say that half of American presidents seem to be ritually accused of ‘_Little Intellectual Curiosity_’, including some of the more obscure ones from the 19th century, but especially Johnson I, Harding, Coolidge, Ford, Reagan, Bush Junior, and Trump. I doubt if anyone can reach that office without considerable intelligence compared to the rest of us — even Harding was a successful newspaper magnate — on the other hand very few presidents, no matter how clever, have _really_ had enormous cultural interests as individuals. I would think at least in part because High Culture is antithetical to the voters. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521/120 "2017-10-15T03:44:04Z")
Still, I will note Trump himself addressed this issue in a tweet in 2013. _“@newnonny: @realDonaldTrump @sroyboyk prove it. And while you’re at it, prove your alleged IQ as well.” The highest, asshole!_ I think it curious that such a tweet did not throw him immediately out of consideration for a race for Dogcatcher. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-donald-trumps-iq/798521.md?page=5)