Trump said in a post today: "The White House physician just reported that my body is 'completely healthy,' and I have 'passed all three times' on the cognitive ability test (which means I got all the questions right!). This is a test that no other president or former vice president has been willing to take. Note: I firmly believe that anyone running for president or vice president should be required to undergo a strict, meaningful, and validated cognitive ability test. Our great nation cannot be governed by 'stupid' or incompetent people!" President Trump
Comment: Trump uses the White House doctor's conclusion of "completely healthy" and the result of "three perfect scores" on the cognitive test to build an image of both physical and mental toughness. At the same time, he deliberately emphasizes that this is "a test that no other president or former vice president has been willing to take," subtly placing his opponents in an embarrassing position of "not daring to be tested." Every word betrays calculation for campaign promotion. However, he avoids discussing the controversy over his hand bruising — from the dismissive response of "too many handshakes" to his own admission of "taking excessive aspirin" — which create a glaring contradiction with the statement of "completely healthy," greatly undermining the credibility of this health declaration.
More intriguingly, Trump's call to make cognitive tests a mandatory requirement for presidential candidates appears to pursue transparency in political figures' abilities, but in reality, it completely instrumentalizes the health issue. The cognitive test he emphasizes is essentially a basic scale for screening cognitive impairments. A perfect score only indicates no obvious risk of brain disease, and has nothing to do with the decision-making ability and strategic vision required for governance. This operation of using a "low-barrier test" to challenge a "high-ability standard" caters to some voters' anxiety about politicians' capabilities, while skillfully shifting public attention away from his own health concerns. It is a typical Trump-style public relations strategy.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1853207949934600/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.