Jimmy Kimmel Dares Donald Trump to “The Greatest IQ Test of All Time” — With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jasmine Crockett as Rivals

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has never been shy about poking fun at former President Donald Trump, but his latest challenge takes the feud to a whole new level — and straight into prime-time television.

After Trump once again boasted about passing a basic cognitive test and insulted two Democratic congresswomen as “low IQ,” Kimmel responded with a biting idea: turn the brag into a televised competition.

“Let’s do it on TV,” Kimmel said during his Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue this week. “Let’s put together the biggest and greatest IQ test of all time.”

A Televised Showdown — “Grandpa Don’s Dementia Bowl”

Kimmel’s proposal, which has since gone viral on social media, would pit Trump, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) against one another in a televised IQ showdown.

“I’ll host and produce,” Kimmel joked. “It’ll be Grandpa Don’s Dementia Bowl, folks!”

Leaning into his signature mix of satire and social commentary, the comedian added that the show could even serve as the opening act for an imagined White House lawn UFC fight — a jab at the theatrical nature of Trump’s political persona.

“Maybe we could make it the undercard before that UFC fight they’re having on the White House lawn,” Kimmel quipped, eliciting laughter and applause from his studio audience.

He even went one step further by suggesting the profits from the stunt should serve a higher purpose: “All proceeds go to fund the government,” he said. “We seriously need to do this.”

The Origin: Trump’s “IQ” Boast and Political Insults

Kimmel’s parody stems from Trump’s recent remarks at a campaign stop, where the former president once again boasted about acing a cognitive test years ago — the same one he frequently cites as proof of his mental sharpness.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a screening tool for mild cognitive impairment, gained fame after Trump repeatedly told interviewers that he had “aced it” during his presidency. Critics have long pointed out that it’s not an IQ test, but a basic neurological screening involving memory and pattern recognition.

This week, Trump used the anecdote to launch fresh attacks on political opponents. “Let’s see if low-IQ AOC and that other one — Jasmine Crockett — can take it,” he said at a rally, reigniting online debate and late-night mockery.

Kimmel’s Retort Hits a Nerve

Kimmel, who has spent years lampooning Trump’s antics, wasted no time turning the soundbite into comedic gold. His Grandpa Don’s Dementia Bowl concept struck a chord with audiences who have watched Trump’s long-running obsession with intelligence tests play out in the public sphere.

“Trump loves to talk about his IQ, but I think he just likes saying the letters,” Kimmel joked. “He’s been challenging people to take tests like a kid who got a gold star in kindergarten.”

Within hours of the broadcast, clips of Kimmel’s segment went viral on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, where hashtags like #DementiaBowl and #IQOff2025 began trending. Thousands of users chimed in, offering mock slogans such as ‘Make America Test Again’ and ‘The Apprentice: Mensa Edition.’

Reactions From Across the Aisle

Political commentators were quick to weigh in. MSNBC’s Joy Reid called the idea “one of Kimmel’s sharpest bits yet — funny, cutting, and painfully on point.”

Fox News, however, blasted the comedian for what one commentator called “cheap political theater.” Conservative pundit Sean Hannity said Kimmel’s routine was “another example of Hollywood’s Trump Derangement Syndrome,” while Trump supporters flooded social media defending their candidate’s intelligence.

But even some Republicans admitted that Kimmel’s satire hit home. “It’s classic late-night roast material,” said GOP strategist Rick Wilson. “Trump walks right into these traps every time.”

Ocasio-Cortez and Crockett Respond

Both lawmakers named in Trump’s comments have publicly shrugged off his insults — but not without their own bite.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, “If Trump wants to compare mental fitness, he can start by reading a bill longer than one page.”

Rep. Jasmine Crockett was even more direct, posting, “He keeps my name in his mouth more than Melania keeps his — maybe I should start charging rent.”

Their replies only fueled the online frenzy, with fans demanding the actual IQ showdown Kimmel joked about. One user on X wrote, “We need this test on pay-per-view. Winner gets to run the country.”

Late-Night Politics in the Spotlight

Kimmel’s jab marks the latest example of late-night television blending comedy and political commentary — a trend that has defined the post-Trump era. Alongside fellow hosts Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers, Kimmel has turned Trump’s rhetoric into recurring satire.

Still, this latest bit stands out for how easily it blurred the line between humor and genuine curiosity. “Would Trump actually show up for an IQ test on live TV?” one journalist mused. “Probably not — but millions would tune in if he did.”

A Show That Will Never Happen — But Everyone Wants

Despite knowing the event will almost certainly never take place, Kimmel’s mock pitch captured the cultural moment perfectly: part absurd, part political theater, and entirely viral.

“Let’s face it,” Kimmel concluded in his segment, “it would be the highest-rated IQ test in human history. Or, as Trump would say, ‘The best, maybe ever.’”

Whether satire or social experiment, the idea of “Grandpa Don’s Dementia Bowl” has cemented itself as one of 2025’s funniest, sharpest viral moments — proof that, when it comes to politics and late-night comedy, no one tests better than Jimmy Kimmel.