Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett has challenged President Donald Trump to an IQ test, stating she would “absolutely” participate in a direct comparison with him. The Democratic congresswoman issued this challenge on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” during her appearance on April 22, 2025, after Trump’s recent remarks about her intelligence.
The challenge follows Trump’s comments last month, during which he labeled Crockett a “lowlife” and a “very low-IQ person” during a radio interview. When Kimmel inquired if she would agree to a public IQ test against Trump, Crockett affirmed her willingness by saying “Absolutely!” three times, receiving applause from the audience.
In the interview, Kimmel displayed a clip of Trump criticizing the Democratic Party’s decision to promote Crockett as their “new star.” Trump questioned the choice, saying, “Are they serious about that… If that’s their new star, they’re in serious trouble. I mean this is Crockett. Oh man, oh man.”
Crockett responded to Trump’s comments by pointing out the peculiarity of a president focusing on a relatively junior member of Congress. She remarked, “It says a lot when you literally are supposed to be the leader of the free world and you’re worried about a rising sophomore in the House. I’m just saying.”
The exchange underscores the ongoing tension between Crockett and Trump, who recently exchanged criticisms. Last week, Crockett accused the MAGA movement of spreading conspiracy theories about her while having what she described as an “orange, buffoon of a leader” at their helm.
Crockett stated on social media, “Unfortunately for MAGA… their buffoon of a leader is every ethical & criminal stereotype that they attribute to me, but the only one that fits the bill isn’t black, but instead orange.”
Trump’s remarks about Crockett’s intelligence appear to respond to her comments about Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott at the March Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles, California. During that event, Crockett referred to Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, as “Governor Hot Wheels,” adding, “the only thing hot about him is that he’s a hot mess, honey.”
Crockett later clarified her intent, stating that her words were misunderstood and that she was referring to the “planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable.”
Crockett, a congresswoman from Dallas, Texas, has become notable within the Democratic Party for her outspoken criticism of Trump and other Republicans. She has also been involved in a longstanding dispute with Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, whom Crockett has previously labeled as the “dumbest person in Congress.”
During her appearance on Kimmel’s show, Crockett emphasized the need for Democrats to speak candidly about the country’s issues rather than focusing solely on policy details. She expressed concern about the current administration’s policies, stating, “we really don’t know how much damage” is being caused and describing their “level of incompetence” as nearly “incomprehensible.”
Crockett’s criticism extended beyond Trump. During the interview, she also targeted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, calling Musk an “idiot” and concluding, “All of y’all are a problem.”
While Kimmel suggested that Trump might secretly like Crockett due to her bold and humorous personality, she remains one of his most vocal critics in the House of Representatives.
Trump has often boasted about his intelligence, claiming a high IQ and stating he “got every answer right” on a cognitive test during an annual physical exam. As of now, the president has not responded to Crockett’s acceptance of the IQ test challenge.
The exchange between Crockett and Trump illustrates the increasingly personal nature of political discourse in Washington. Direct challenges and insults are becoming more prevalent among elected officials from opposing parties.
As a sophomore representative from Texas, Crockett has quickly emerged as a prominent voice within the Democratic Party. She is recognized for her direct communication style and willingness to engage in confrontational exchanges with political adversaries.
