Kamala Harris challenges Trump to cognitive test ahead of election day

Washington DC - Kamala Harris said Monday she would take a cognitive test in response to jabs from Donald Trump, and challenged the ex-president to take one too as mental fitness becomes a battle line in the White House race.

Democratic presidential nominee, US Vice President Kamala Harris (c.) speaks during a campaign rally at The Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center on Sunday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Democratic presidential nominee, US Vice President Kamala Harris (c.) speaks during a campaign rally at The Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center on Sunday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  © Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/AFP Andrew Harnik / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Harris has repeatedly said her 78-year-old Republican opponent, now the oldest presidential candidate in US history, is increasingly "unhinged" and unfit to lead the country again.

Trump has meanwhile called the 60-year-old Democratic vice president stupid, attacking her IQ in his pitch to voters in a race that the polls suggest is effectively tied.

Harris was asked in a CBS interview segment released Monday if she would take a cognitive test, as Trump had called for on social media.

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Donald Trump Trump taps controversial Governor Kristi Noem for big administration role

"Sure. I would challenge him to take the same one," the vice president said.

"This is what he has resorted to. I think he is actually increasingly unstable and unhinged and has resorted to name-calling because he actually has no plan for the American people," she added.

Harris' attacks on Trump's fitness focused last week on revelations from his longest-serving chief of staff, John Kelly.

The decorated Iraq veteran told The New York Times that Trump, while president, remarked that "Hitler did some good things too" and that instead of the US military's leadership, he "wanted generals like Adolf Hitler had."

Harris told reporters that Trump's alleged conduct was "deeply troubling and incredibly dangerous" and she later said she agreed with Kelly's description of Trump being a "fascist."

Cover photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/AFP Andrew Harnik / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

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