In 2003, on “Da Ali G Show”, British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen interviewed Donald Trump while in-character as the dim-witted wannabe rapper character Ali G. He tricked a lot of people into saying the most ridiculous things on camera, or getting visibly uncomfortable or upset and making themselves look bad. It was his trademark and Cohen was brilliant at it. Still is, actually.
And Donald Trump caught on, immediately. He knew the man he was talking to wasn’t who he claimed to be. He knew something was up. And unlike so many others, including numerous prominent figures, he didn’t fall for it. While this is by no means a measure of great intelligence, it speaks to a certain level of street smarts. Now whether or not Trump maintains these street smarts now, 22 years later, at the age of almost 79? Doubtful. We all get a little slower with age. But there was a time where he was fairly sharp and would cut straight through the bullshit of others — you cannot, after all, bullshit a bullshitter. And he is a well-seasoned bullshitter.
I would argue that Trump was of average to slightly above average IQ, and likely had an above average EQ. His social intelligence was pretty solid. I also believe he has deteriorated with time, that old age has caught up with him but that flashes of the old showman’s brilliance still shine through on occasion. In a cabinet made up of some of the dumbest people in American political history, he’s far from the dimmest light, believe it or not. But this is more of a testament to how amateurish his team is than it is evidence of his own brilliance.