Former CNN reporter Jim Acosta, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, participated in a televised demonstration of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) on his show, administered by Dr.Rob Davidson of the Committee to Protect Healthcare.

During the test, Acosta completed several standard cognitive tasks, including drawing shapes, identifying animals, naming the date, and performing serial subtraction exercises.He reportedly required a minor prompt on one memory task but otherwise completed the screening successfully.

Following the exercise, Acosta argued that presidents of the United States should not be subjected to cognitive testing as part of their public role, emphasizing that voters should elect individuals without raising concerns about cognitive impairment in the first place.

He suggested that the continued focus on such testing—particularly in relation to Donald Trump’s public comments about his own results—has become more of a political talking point than a meaningful assessment of presidential capability.

Acosta also criticized Trump’s tendency to highlight his own cognitive test performance, noting that the MoCA is intended to screen for mild cognitive impairment rather than measure intelligence or overall fitness for office.He framed the discussion as an example of political spectacle overshadowing substantive governance issues.

The segment concluded with Acosta encouraging a more restrained attitude toward discussing test results publicly, comparing it to athletes who avoid excessive celebration after routine achievements.The full demonstration and commentary were made available on his YouTube channel.

The broader discussion sparked debate about the appropriateness of cognitive testing as a political tool and its role in public perceptions of leadership fitness in the United States.