Jon Stewart has a theory about why President Donald Trump’s “extreme intelligence” claims from May 31 might not translate to game show glory — and it involves a New York apartment building, a water tower, and the president’s own medical chart.
On the June 3 episode of “The Weekly Show,” the “Daily Show” host was asked to imagine how Trump would fare on “Jeopardy!” — the iconic quiz program many consider a true measuring stick for raw intellect. Stewart, 63, didn’t hold back in his spirited prediction of how the 79-year-old president would perform.
The conversation was prompted by a Truth Social post Trump fired off at midnight on Sunday, May 31, in which he declared himself to possess “extreme intelligence” after acing what he described as his fourth consecutive “dementia test.” Trump claimed a “PERFECT” score on the cognitive exam, and Stewart decided to put that self-assessment through a televised stress test of his own design.
The Water Tower Theory of Intelligence
Stewart’s central argument leaned heavily on plumbing — specifically, the plumbing of the human body. He floated a theory that ties cognitive performance directly to circulation, and circulation directly to Trump’s well-documented health history.
“I’ve always felt that for intelligence — so where’s your brain located? It’s the head. … If you think about it as a New York apartment building, it’s the water tower. And what’s the most important thing in the water tower? Pressure and the hydraulics of it. And what does Trump have? Chronic venous insufficiency. He’s got shitty water pressure!” Stewart said.
The comedian was referring to Trump’s chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI, a condition that causes swollen legs and ankles. The diagnosis was revealed by the White House in July 2025. The president’s physician noted in a recent physical examination report that the swelling had improved since the original diagnosis.
Stewart was undeterred by the upbeat medical update. “So what happens? … No water pressure, no good shower, flushes are kind of hard to come by. So, as far as ‘Jeopardy!’ is concerned, this dude’s not getting the water pressure,” he continued.
Buzzer Skills and Bruised Hands
The “Weekly Show” producers jumped into the bit, raising another physical concern: the bruised, purplish hand Trump has been seen covering with makeup. One producer suggested that Trump might struggle with the buzzer, the small-but-mighty piece of equipment that has decided countless “Jeopardy!” matches.
Stewart agreed the hand had “seen better days,” but pivoted to a more behavioral concern. He predicted that even if the president made it to the podium, he would simply blurt out answers rather than wait for host Ken Jennings to finish reading the clue — a strategy that has historically not worked out well on the show.
The ‘B’ in ‘Dumb’
From there, the discussion turned to Trump’s rambling explanation, delivered to Lara Trump, 52, of how he came up with the insult “Dumocrat.” The president claimed that many Americans don’t know the word “dumb” contains the letter “B,” which is why he dropped it for his preferred spelling of the political jab.
Stewart, slipping into a Trump impression to recount the moment, marveled at the entire exchange.
“How is this real?” he asked.
Ken Jennings Wouldn’t Be a Friendly Host
Even if Trump were inclined to test out his “extreme intelligence” on the show, he might not find a particularly welcoming environment behind the lectern. Jennings, who took over hosting duties from the late Alex Trebek and holds the all-time record of 74 consecutive “Jeopardy!” wins, has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration for years.
That history once forced Jennings to delete a swath of old tweets and issue a public apology when he was first appointed to the host chair. More recently, on January 20, hours after ICE agents killed Renée Good in Minnesota, Jennings posted to Bluesky that “the ‘prosecute the former regime at every level’ candidate has my vote in 2028.”
The “Weekly Show” team ultimately concluded that Trump might be better suited to a different format altogether. One producer offered that the president seemed more like a “Wheel of Fortune” guy. Stewart wasn’t even sure about that.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “I think even the spinning of the wheel would throw him off. Vertigo.”