Desperate to prove he's not a moron, Trump demands second Cabinet secretary take IQ test

He has tweeted repeatedly about the story, rather than letting it disappear, assuring that the country — and the media — continues to talk about “moron” Trump.

Now Trump has taken his obsession to a new and shocking level. In a new interview with Forbes magazine, Trump challenges his secretary of state to an IQ competition, apparently to prove he is not a moron.

“I think it’s fake news,” Trump said, “but if he did that, I guess we’ll have to compare IQ tests. And I can tell you who is going to win.”

If Trump’s record is any indication, Tillerson will win — and get a promotion.

This isn’t the first time Trump has challenged a critic to take an IQ test. During the presidential campaign, when former Texas Gov. Rick Perry dared to criticize Trump, Trump lashed out at him and demanded that he take an IQ test.

.@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

Perry went on to lose the nomination, of course, but Trump apparently deemed his IQ sufficient to promote him from failed reality TV show contestant to secretary of the Department of Energy.

Perry got the last laugh, and it seems Tillerson might too. He refused to deny calling Trump a moron and has thus far paid no price for it.

Of course, Trump is not likely to follow through on his bluster to prove his IQ any more than he is likely to ever release his tax returns to prove his net worth.

Given the kinds of stories that regularly leak from Trump’s White House, including his Cabinet, attacking his own team and literally insulting their intelligence seems guaranteed to make things worse — for him.