'So Stupid': Critics Taunt Trump After Latest Wild Claim About His Own Intelligence

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he was “quite impressed” with his own intelligence.

His critics? Less so.

Trump made the odd claim during a speech in North Carolina, where he credited himself with the idea of giving U.S. service members a $1,776 check last year during the holidays as a so-called “warrior dividend.”

“I wanted to get a bonus for the military,” he said, although the money had actually already been allocated by Congress, which set aside $2.9 billion as part of a military housing supplement.

“So it came out to my desk, ‘Sir, we can give $1,775,’” Trump recalled. “I looked at the number, and I said, ‘Wait a minute, for $1 more, it’s $1,776,’ which is pretty good.”

The president couldn’t help but pat himself on the back over the tweak.

“I was quite impressed with my intelligence,” he said. “I’m a high-IQ person, after all.”

Trump: “So it came out to my desk, ‘Sir, we can give $1,775.’ I looked at the number, and I said, ‘Wait a minute, for $1 more. It’s 1,776,’ which is pretty good. I was quite impressed with my intelligence. I’m a high-IQ person, after all.” pic.twitter.com/TQGmu2owMz

— Bulwark Clips (@BulwarkClips) September 17, 2026

Trump claimed that “everyone” told him it would be “impossible” to reach that $1,776 number.

But he pulled it off.

The president has frequently bragged about his intelligence, often citing his results on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as proof. In May, for example, he claimed to have gotten a “perfect” score, which he said shows his “extreme intelligence.”

Just one problem: The MoCA is not an intelligence test.

It’s the infamous “Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.” test, and is used to check for signs of cognitive decline and dementia. Doctors say the fact that he’s taken it at least three times now is cause for concern.

You can try it yourself .

Trump’s critics say the real test is what he’s said and done in public.

And they’re not exactly impressed by what they’ve seen:

Remember that Dunning-Krueger isn’t just that you don’t know anything

It’s that you’re so stupid that you don’t know you’re stupid and think you’re brilliant https://t.co/xTdjIwqsF7

Read more GOP Congressman Says Donald Trump Is ‘Doing Everything He Can’ To Tank The Midterms

— Robert E Kelly (@Robert_E_Kelly) September 17, 2026

https://t.co/69uMGiBSlP pic.twitter.com/H1sUq2Rwix

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) September 17, 2026

Once, the New York Times asked Stephen Hawking what his IQ was. He said, “I have no idea. People who boast about their IQ are losers”. https://t.co/MJB7us2UNL

— Jane of the North (@JaneotN) September 17, 2026

You didn’t know there was a “b” in the word dumb. https://t.co/9o9WKikHFb

— Rob “Stats” Guerrera (@StatsOnFire) September 17, 2026

He brags about passing dementia tests, and just figured out a few weeks back that “dumb” had a “b” in it, and can’t shut up about it. https://t.co/Nb1wEd8ylb

— Melanie D’Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) September 17, 2026

The problem with stupid people is that they don’t know they’re stupid. https://t.co/AektTCYvON

— JerryRigEverything (@ZacksJerryRig) September 17, 2026

Intelligent people never say this, btw https://t.co/K85BRtTWEk

— The Mick (@Mick_Limerick) September 17, 2026

High-IQ people aren’t impressed with their intelligence. They’re grateful and humble. And they don’t need to announce that they’re smart because it’s obvious. Only dum(b) people do that. https://t.co/O59zQjZs0o

— Nasty Woman (@HandToForehead) September 17, 2026

Trump: “I was quite impressed with my intelligence. I’m a high IQ person after all.”

Somewhere, a Mensa membership application just burst into flames.

Nothing says high IQ quite like conducting your own intelligence review and unanimously approving it. https://t.co/T3OSQAWbOl

— Chetter (@ChetterHub) September 17, 2026

If you have to constantly tell people that you’re smart… https://t.co/mzRiOi9Sug

— Morgan Laidler 🇨🇦 (@MorganLaidler) September 17, 2026

Intelligence is best telegraphed without hubris

Those that have to telegraph it don’t truly possess it. https://t.co/qsszKD1gha

— Jeff Storobinsky (@JeffStorobinsky) September 17, 2026

Donald Trump thinks a dementia exam was an IQ test. This should tell you everything you need to know about his actual IQ. 😏 https://t.co/m8aAQeyU4n

— Barnacules Nerdgasm (@Barnacules) September 17, 2026

I have polyps in my colon that could outwit this shambling imbecilic oaf. https://t.co/xPhpNJXCnH

Read more Trump Makes Ugly New Threat About What He’ll Do If His Candidate Loses

— Jeff Timmer (@jefftimmer) September 17, 2026