US President Donald Trump, on Friday, ignored criticism from his opponents as he boasted of his cognitive abilities and intelligence during a rally in New York, saying that he does not mind being described as a “tyrant” or “dictator” but strongly objects to being called “stupid.” Trump told his supporters: “I don’t mind being called a brilliant, tyrannical dictator, but I don’t want to be called an idiot.”
The comments came during a campaign-style appearance in New York’s Hudson Valley alongside Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, where Trump repeatedly shied away from economic messages and launched a lengthy defense of his intelligence and mental acuity. At one point, Trump said criticism surrounding his cognitive fitness prompted him to take a cognitive assessment, which he claimed he passed.
“I’m the smartest man you’ll ever meet,” he later told the audience. The nearly 90-minute speech quickly shifted between topics including inflation, crime, immigration, voter ID laws, transgender athletes and criticism of his predecessor, Joe Biden. Trump also repeatedly mocked Democrats during the event, referring to them as “Democrats,” a term he has used frequently recently, while urging his supporters to stay politically engaged ahead of the congressional elections.
“You have to go vote,” he said. “Otherwise, it is a rigged election.” The rally was organized to support Lawler, one of the few House Republicans who represents a district won by Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. New York’s 17th Congressional District is expected to be among the most competitive House races in the country and could play a key role in determining control of Congress. The event also focused on last year’s expansion of the federal deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT, an issue of great importance in high-tax states like New York.
Trump praised Lawler for aggressively pushing the measure through Congress, joking: “I call him Mr. SALT.” Lawler later thanked Trump for supporting the expansion and said the measure provided a major tax break for residents of his district. The congressman, wearing a red “Mr. Salt” hat, said more than 90 percent of households in the district are now able to deduct their state and local taxes in full. Trump also defended his broader economic agenda during the speech. “I cut taxes, I cut taxes on workers, families and small businesses, who are the soul of this country,” he said. “These are all Republican tax cuts. Democrats voted against every one of these tax cuts.” The appearance comes as the White House seeks to refocus attention on Trump’s economic record amid falling approval ratings linked to inflation fears and rising fuel prices in the wake of the Iranian conflict.
