Joe Biden was unable to answer a question on a cognitive test that asked him to identify a lion from a set of pictures.
Posted by Badlands Media, Checked
- Sources
- 3 contradict4 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 70%
Badlands MediaOct 15, 2026
The claim that Biden failed a lion-identification question on a cognitive test is contradicted by sources showing he did not take such a test: Snopes reports Biden did not take a cognitive test during his February 2024 physical, and CBS News quotes him in 2020 saying he had not taken one.
What was said
… It's a very standard test, but very tough. There are a few people in this audience that can. Once you get past the first question, which is quite easy, they show you a lion, a bear, a giraffe, and a snake, and they say, 'Which one is the lion?' Joe Biden was unable to answer that particular no, but you know what they do? The fake news, like The New York Times, when they show the test, they ask 30 questions. By the time you get to the middle of the heart, by the time you get to the end, you have to be very, very smart. …
Badlands Media · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. Snopes rates the claim that Biden refused a cognitive test as False, stating Biden did not take a cognitive test during his annual physical on Feb. 28, 2024.[1]
Contradicts. In a 2020 CBS News interview, Biden said "No, I haven't taken a test," which undercuts any claim that he sat for and failed a lion-identification question.[2][3]
Context. The lion-and-elephant reference in 2020 coverage concerns Biden's remark about Trump's test, not a test Biden himself took.[3][5]
Context. The 2026 posts repeating the claim (Huffpost, AOL, NJ.com) quote Trump and do not provide independent evidence that Biden took the test.[4][6][7]
Sources
7 sources: 1 fact-checker, 2 tier 2, 4 not rated
- 1Biden Is the 1st US President To 'Refuse' a Cognitive Test?snopes.com · fact-checker · cited for: contradicts
- 2Biden says he hasn't taken a cognitive test: "Why the hell would I ...cbsnews.com · tier 2 · cited for: contradicts
- 3Trump boasts about his cognitive testing. Biden askslatimes.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts, context
- 4Trump Dubs Himself A 'Freaking Genius' For Passing Cognitive Testhuffpost.com · tier 2 · cited for: context
- 5Biden asks reporter if he's a 'junkie' in testy exchange over cognitive declinethe-independent.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 6Trump Seems to Suggest ‘Few People in This Audience’ at His Rally Could Ace a Cognitive Test - AOLaol.co.uk · not rated · cited for: context
- 7Trump dubs himself a 'freaking genius' for repeating 5 wordsnj.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- Donald Trump has taken a cognitive test during every physical examination he has had while in office.Can’t tell
- Donald Trump has taken a cognitive test three times.Can’t tell
- The Biden administration used body doubles to portray Joe Biden at certain moments while he was in office.False
- No other president has taken the cognitive test that Donald Trump took.Can’t tell
- Donald Trump claimed Katie Hobbs could not pass a cognitive test.True