In what is being called one of the most controversial and unfiltered political moments of the year, former President Donald Trump has set social media ablaze and ignited a political firestorm after publicly mocking Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Jasmine Crockett, calling them “very low IQ individuals” and challenging them to take a televised intelligence test.
The shocking remarks came during a fiery rally in Florida Tuesday night, where Trump addressed thousands of supporters in what was meant to be a campaign-style speech focused on the 2026 midterms. However, the event quickly turned into a personal vendetta against two of his loudest critics — and it didn’t take long before his words set the political world on fire.
“We’ve got these two geniuses,” Trump said, referring to AOC and Crockett. “Jasmine and Alexandria. Total disasters. Very low IQ. I honestly think we should have an intelligence test — live — and let the people see for themselves.”
The crowd erupted in applause and laughter, while clips of the moment instantly went viral online. Within minutes, hashtags like #TrumpIQTestChallenge and #VeryLowIQ began trending on X (formerly Twitter), as pundits, supporters, and critics weighed in on the explosive challenge.
While Trump has never shied away from targeting political opponents with personal insults, this latest attack crossed into new territory by publicly questioning the intelligence of two sitting members of Congress — and then demanding a head-to-head test in full public view.
“This is no longer about political disagreement,” said political analyst Jeff Whitmore. “This is Trump going full reality TV mode, turning democratic discourse into a spectacle. It’s vintage Trump — part insult comic, part showman, and always unpredictable.”
Both AOC and Crockett wasted no time firing back.
AOC responded on X: “The only test Trump should be worried about is the one that measures how many laws he’s broken. But if he wants to compare mental fitness — bring it on. I’ll even help him spell ‘intelligence’ first.”
Crockett followed shortly after: “Very low IQ? Sir, I was cross-examining witnesses while you were golfing through classified briefings. Challenge accepted — but let’s add a lie detector test while we’re at it.”
The war of words has since snowballed into a full-blown media frenzy. Political commentators have split sharply down ideological lines, with right-wing pundits celebrating Trump’s “bravery” for speaking what they claim others are too afraid to say, while liberal voices have denounced the remarks as sexist, racist, and deeply unpresidential.
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow said:
“This wasn’t a policy critique. This was a schoolyard bully with a microphone, attacking two accomplished women of color for sport.”
Meanwhile, Fox News host Jesse Watters took the opposite stance, calling the challenge “hilarious and totally justified,” claiming “Trump knows how to bait them — and he’s winning.”
This isn’t the first time Trump has used IQ as a weapon. During his presidency, he infamously labeled various critics — including Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and even his former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson — as having “low IQ” or being “not very smart.” But the notion of issuing a formal public intelligence challenge has taken his rhetoric to a new, theatrical level.
What would such a test even look like? Legal scholars and media experts alike are scrambling to interpret whether this could lead to any formal event — perhaps even a televised debate or forum. So far, no official event has been proposed, but Trump’s team has reportedly reached out to several conservative-leaning media outlets to gauge interest in hosting some form of “intellectual showdown.”
White House Press Secretary Andrew Miller declined to comment directly on Trump’s remarks, stating only, “The President believes in focusing on real issues, not playground taunts.”
But in Trump’s world, those playground taunts are the issues — and they drive engagement like nothing else.
As the political dust settles, one thing is clear: Trump’s ability to dominate the news cycle through controversy remains unmatched. By framing intelligence as a battleground, he’s once again forced his opponents into a reactive position — a strategy he’s mastered over the years.
Whether AOC and Crockett will actually participate in any form of public challenge remains uncertain. But the challenge itself has already served its purpose: to humiliate, provoke, and steal the spotlight.
In the words of one viral meme:
“Trump doesn’t play chess or checkers — he plays cable news ratings.”
And with the nation watching, it’s clear that this latest move has once again tilted the political game board in his chaotic favor.
