Harris responded to question about cognitive tests, though social media posts suggest otherwise


Harris Philadelphia, 10-27-2024
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a community rally at the Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center, Oct. 27, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP)

In a video clip spreading on social media, “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell interviews Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. O’Donnell recounts comments from former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, questioning his rival’s competency. 

“Donald Trump was on Joe Rogan and he called you, Madam Vice President, a ‘very low IQ person’ and said, ‘I think she needs to take a cognitive test. I think Kamala should have a test because there’s something missing, there’s something wrong with her,’” O’Donnell says in the video.

Harris smiles and silently nods and the clip ends. 

“CBS: President Trump is calling you to take a cognitive test,” text flanking the video says. “VP Harris: *Blank stare*”  

An Instagram post sharing the video was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

But the clip shared on Instagram, from an interview that aired Oct. 28, ends before Harris responds. 

O’Donnell’s comments that appear in the clip start at the 2:44 mark in this extended excerpt published on CBS News’ website.

“Would you take a cognitive test?” O’Donnell says. 

“Sure,” Harris says. “I would challenge him to take the same one.”

She goes on to call him “increasingly stable and unhinged” and “unfit” for office.

We rate claims she didn’t respond to questions about a cognitive test False.

 

Truth-o-meter Ruling

False

If your time is short

  • Vice President Kamala Harris said in a CBS News interview that aired Oct. 28 she would take a cognitive test and challenged former President Donald Trump to do the same. 

Statement

Vice President Kamala Harris didn’t respond to questions about a cognitive test in a CBS News interview that aired Oct. 28, 2024.

Context

an Instagram post

Speaker/Target

Speaker: Viral image
Targets: Kamala Harris

Statement Date

October 31, 2024
Our Sources

Instagram post, Oct. 29, 2024

CBS News, Kamala Harris says she'd take a cognitive test; challenges Trump "to take the same one," Oct. 28, 2024

YouTube, Joe Rogan Experience #2219 - Donald Trump, Oct. 25, 2024 

More by This Author

Latest Fact-Checks