Donald Trump challenges Rex Tillerson to compare IQ scores
Donald Trump reached for one of his favourite measures of manhood on Tuesday in the ongoing spat with his own Secretary of State, challenging Rex Tillerson to an IQ test.
Last week Mr Tillerson was forced to restate his loyalty to Mr Trump after leaks suggested he considering resigning over the summer and had in private described the President as a “moron”.
In typical style, Mr Trump said he would be happy to settle the question of his intelligence once and for all.
“I think it's fake news, but if he did that, I guess we'll have to compare IQ tests,” he told Forbes magazine. “And I can tell you who is going to win.”
Mr Trump’s words mark the latest humiliation for the man who serves as his envoy to the world. Mr Tillerson has become increasingly isolated while the President looks to the retired and serving generals who staff his national security apparatus for guidance on foreign policy.
Profile | Rex Tillerson
While Mr Tillerson continues to work diplomatic channels to rein in North Korea’s atomic weapons programme and tries to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, the Commander-in-Chief has repeatedly said military power is the only way to deal with Kim Jong-un’s regime and signalled that he plans to decertify the agreement with Tehran later this week.
Although much of the tensions have remained private, Mr Tillerson has publicly complained that the President has prevented him making key appointments at the State Department.
At the same time, Bob Corker, a retiring Republican senator who chairs the influential Foreign Affairs Committee, has warned the President risked leading America into World War Three with his unthinking public pronouncements.
The Failing @nytimes set Liddle' Bob Corker up by recording his conversation. Was made to sound a fool, and that's what I am dealing with!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2017
In the Forbes interview, Mr Trump responded to criticism that he has undermined his Secretary of State with provocative tweets that have interfered with diplomatic efforts.
“I'm not undermining,” he said. “I think I'm actually strengthening authority.”
However, he still felt the need to use IQ to prove who was boss.
Such threats have long been one of his go-to challenges – along with contests of height and net worth. Mr Trump has a history of boasting about his own IQ and using the idea of measurable intelligence to put down others.
I know some of you may think l'm tough and harsh but actually I'm a very compassionate person (with a very high IQ) with strong common sense
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2013
In 2007, it was George W Bush. In an interview with Howard Stern, he said: “I really don’t think he has much of an IQ. I can’t imagine he has any IQ at all.”
During the last election it was Barack Obama, believers in climate change, experts in general or his Republican opponents, such as Rick Perry.
.@GovernorPerry failed on the border. He should be forced to take an IQ test before being allowed to enter the GOP debate.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2015
And in May last year he even challenged the Mayor of London to an IQ test after Sadiq Khan said the then Republican candidate’s Muslim ban proposal was based on an ignorant view of Islam.
“Let’s do an IQ test,” was Mr Trump’s pithy response when quizzed on the issue by Piers Morgan.