Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett has issued a challenge to President Donald Trump, stating she would “absolutely” participate in an IQ test against him. The Democratic congresswoman made this announcement on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday night, April 22, in response to Trump’s recent remarks about her intelligence.
The challenge follows Trump’s description of Crockett as a “lowlife” and a “very low-IQ person” during a radio interview last month. When Kimmel inquired if she would agree to a public IQ test with the president, Crockett eagerly replied, repeating “Absolutely!” three times, eliciting applause from the audience.
During the show, Kimmel played a segment where Trump criticized the Democratic Party’s decision to spotlight Crockett as their “new star.” In the clip, Trump questioned the Democrats’ choice, commenting, “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 was swift to address the president’s comments. She remarked to Kimmel that it was noteworthy for someone in Trump’s role to focus on a relatively new member of Congress. “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,” Crockett stated.
This exchange underscores the ongoing friction between Crockett and Trump, who have exchanged criticisms multiple times in recent months. Last week, Crockett criticized the MAGA movement for spreading conspiracy theories about her while having what she described as an “orange, buffoon of a leader” in charge.
“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,” she posted on her social media account.
Trump’s remarks regarding Crockett’s intelligence seem to be a response to her comments about Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott at the Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles, California, in March. At the event, Crockett referred to Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, as “Governor Hot Wheels,” adding that “the only thing hot about him is that he’s a hot mess, honey.”
Crockett later clarified that her remarks were misunderstood, explaining 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.”
The Dallas, Texas, congresswoman has gained attention within the Democratic Party for her vocal criticism of Trump and other Republicans. She has also been involved in a continuing dispute with Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, whom Crockett has previously called the “dumbest person in Congress.”
In her Kimmel appearance, Crockett discussed the importance of Democrats speaking genuinely about national issues rather than merely debating policy specifics. She expressed concern about the current administration’s policies, telling Kimmel that “we really don’t know how much damage” the administration is causing and describing their “level of incompetence” as nearly “incomprehensible.”
Crockett expanded her criticism beyond Trump, targeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Tesla CEO Elon Musk during the interview, referring to Musk as an “idiot” and concluding, “All of y’all are a problem.”
While Kimmel suggested Trump might secretly appreciate Crockett due to her assertive and humorous nature, the congresswoman continues to be one of the president’s most outspoken critics in the House of Representatives.
Trump has often claimed to have a high IQ in the past, asserting he “got every answer right” on a cognitive test taken during an annual physical examination. The president has yet to respond to Crockett’s acceptance of the IQ test challenge.
The interaction between Crockett and Trump exemplifies the increasingly personal nature of political discourse in Washington, with direct challenges and insults becoming more common between elected officials of opposing parties.
As a sophomore representative from Texas, Crockett has quickly established herself as a prominent voice within the Democratic Party, known for her straightforward communication style and readiness to engage in confrontational exchanges with political adversaries.
