President Donald Trump told a packed rally at Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday, October 22, that doctors warned him his cognitive assessment could prove “embarrassing” if he did not do well, and he said he passed the test with flying colors.
The president spoke candidly about his latest annual physical and mental fitness exam less than two weeks before the midterm elections, where Iowa Republicans are working to hold a Senate seat, three House districts and the governor's office. The Daily Record reported the remarks from the airport rally, and The Mirror covered the president's comments on his medical check-up.
Trump Recounts the Test Questions to the Crowd
Trump walked supporters through the questions he faced during the cognitive assessment, which he took months earlier at Walter Reed. “The first question is tough. They have a lion, a snake, a giraffe, and a bear. And they say, which is the snake?” he told the crowd.
He described a memory and math challenge that required him to work through several steps of arithmetic on the spot.
“They'll say, like, take a number, any number, I say 49, triple it, divide by four, add 2019, subtract 87, divide by three, multiply by nine. What is the number? I did it three times. And you know I got no credit,” Trump said.
It is an anecdote the president has recounted at stops across the country, and he joked that the press showed little interest when he aced it. “I took it, I announced it, I thought it was going to be a big deal, and nobody even covered it,” he said.
Doctors Warned a Poor Score Could Be a “Disaster”
The president said his physicians cautioned him before the exam that a weak performance would carry consequences. “You know if I didn't do well, I would have had a disaster on my hands, right? That's what they told me. They said, ‘Well, sir, if you do well, it's great. If you don't ... it may be embarrassing to you,'” Trump said, according to the Brit Brief account of the rally.
The Irish Star reported that Walter Reed doctors issued the warning ahead of what the president described as his third annual check-up.
Why the President's Health Is in the Spotlight
Trump's fitness has drawn renewed attention following reports about a “three-minute” medical protocol in which his physician, Dr. Sean Barbarella, stays within a three-minute radius of the president at all times. A source described the arrangement to The Wall Street Journal, saying White House staff leave the room during conversations between the president and his doctor, and that Barbarella's approach is “low key and direct.”
Barbarella has released the president's medical reports throughout his second term and has consistently described his physical and mental condition as excellent. The reports have noted some physical symptoms, including swelling in his ankles, bruising on his hands and apparent forgetfulness.
What the May Medical Report Found
The physical exam Trump referenced was conducted in May. The report found that the president “demonstrates strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function.”
“AI-enhanced electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis estimated his cardiac age, an established measure of cardiovascular vitality, to be approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age,” Barbarella wrote.
“His demanding daily schedule, including multiple high-level meetings, public engagements, and regular physical activity, continues to support his overall well-being. Cognitive and physical performance are excellent. He is fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State,” the doctor concluded.
The Daily Star noted the president cited the May examination to demonstrate his fitness at the Sioux City rally.
High Stakes for Iowa Republicans in the Midterms
The rally came at a critical moment for the state's Republican ticket. Iowa voters will decide the fate of a U.S. Senate seat, three competitive House districts and the governor's office on November 3, and the president's visit was aimed at turning out his base in the closing stretch.
Democrats see an opening in voter concerns about the economy, the Iran war and the administration's policies, but Trump's appearance in heavily Republican western Iowa was designed to energize the voters who delivered him the state in 2024. Sioux City and the surrounding counties remain a stronghold for the president, and statewide turnout there often decides close races.
For Iowa families watching their health care costs and farm incomes, the president's message on his own stamina was paired with his usual pitch on the economy, border security and support for American agriculture.
FAQ
What did Trump say about his cognitive test at the Iowa rally?
Trump told the Sioux City crowd on October 22 that he passed a cognitive assessment, including animal identification and multi-step math questions, and that doctors warned him beforehand that a poor result could be “embarrassing.”
Who is President Trump's personal physician?
Dr. Sean Barbarella serves as the president's principal doctor, stays within a three-minute radius of him under a reported medical protocol, and has released Trump's medical reports during his second term, describing his health as excellent.
What did the May medical report say about Trump's health?
The May report said Trump demonstrates strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function, with an estimated cardiac age roughly 14 years younger than his chronological age, and declared him fully fit to serve as president.