Donald
Trump is ill. This blog and a few other
sites have argued that the diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder from a distance,
a practice effectively banned after the 1964 Presidential election, needs to be
constructively reconsidered. What we are
seeing evolve before our eyes is the progression of a high profiled individual
with a Narcissistic Personality Disorder
(NPD) descending into a state of paranoia.
Running
for a political office may top a list of ideal pursuits for someone with a NPD,
however performing in that office, especially as a President, may be the worst
possible position for someone with a NPD to hold.
It
is both terrifying and sad simultaneously, but in no case should sympathy for
the victim (Trump) be the primary response.
Nor should expressing diagnosis be restricted. This is the President of
the United States and protection of the Office (dare I say it) trumps
everything else, including the President himself.
There
is no point in recounting the events that began Tuesday (May 9th) as jaw
dropping news is surfacing so fast that the news media is having difficulty
catching its breath. Watching it is like watching a pinball in action, you
barely have time to consider a bell or buzz or light before the ball streaks
across the table to set off another. Certainly you have no ability to look up
and assess the score.
It
is worth considering what to expect next in order to be prepared to formulate a
reaction and reduce the shock.
As
predicted in this blog, the Trump Presidency was destined to be opaque, logically
one of the most opaque in history. Of course, that could be true of anyone who
fashions himself an authoritarian leader (even in a democracy). However,
Trump’s NPD exacerbates his need to continually isolate himself from opinion
that contradicts his personal “reality”.
He
cannot accept responsibility for anything that doesn’t exact a laudatory
response. Further, he cannot express his opinion or observations in any way
that doesn’t include superlatives or hyperbole.
It
isn’t just quirky behavior why Trump persistently adds adjectives such as the most, the greatest ever, and unbelievable
(among many others) to describe even the most mundane of aspects of life
(chocolate cake e.g.). He is expressing his “unique” ability to know more than
the receiver of that information.
That
same behavior accounts for the knee jerk responses he makes without any
consideration of the consequences. It
isn’t that he doesn’t believe there are consequences; it is simply that because
his opinion is flawless (to him) then the events that result from his words or
actions are also without flaw. Any contradictory responses from any source
(internal or external) are, in his world, wrong or even corrupt…big league. Think crowd size, Jersey
City Muslims, or wire tapping.
This
is not a choice for him, nor is it some contrived scheme on his part. In fact, it
could be argued that he’s not lying, which implies intent. The man has a NPD,
and it explains everything. It also
provides a clear window to view the oncoming storm.
The
high visibility and high content nature of the American Presidency will become
debilitating for The Donald. Out of necessity he will need to isolate himself
from the Press (i.e. the American people), and his circle of insiders will
continue to shrink. It isn’t loyalty he
seeks (needs), it’s receipt of positive affect,
which he’ll happily take from anyone, friend and foe alike.
As
he cannot mentally incorporate his own fallibility into the whirlwind which is
his Administration, he will become more sullen and more erratic in his
communications (as if you thought that possible).
It
will consume the running of the Federal Government. The Republicans may have
had a sigh of relief that the newly appointed Special Counsel is proceeding as a criminal investigation. That will take much (if not all) of
evolving events out of the public arena, but no matter. Trump will continue to
spiral toward characteristics associated with paranoia and the spectacle will
continue.
I
am disturbed by the media, the events as they are presented, and their lack of cojones to address Trump’s mental
capacity. It’s as if the news persons of
America are watching a tornado passing but only reporting the various
objects they see twisting in the air: …we are now seeing a Chevy Camero missing its side view mirror, there’s a cow looking
unfed, there’s a loblolly pine losing its bark, there’s a Kenmore fridge with
food spilling out, and so forth. We
really never hear about the damned cyclone, and, astonishingly, they’re
constantly surprised with each new object they see.
A
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is
a real and relatively rare mental condition. It resides at the end of a spectrum of
narcissistic behavior in which all individuals are on. Donald Trump may be
removed from Office by impeachment and Senate conviction as a result of his confounded
incompetence and his financial complexities, but that would take a painfully long time to accomplish.
The
proper place to remove Trump from office is Article 25 section 4 of the Constitution
to create the least anxiety upon the Nation. However, that cannot happen until
the nature of Trump’s mental condition merits open discussion.
2 comments:
The discussion (of Trump's mental state) has been going on in some clinical circles since before Trump's nomination. What has not been going on is formal clinical assessment. And, of course, how to obtain such an assessment constitutes the primary stumbling block. A deadbolt would be a more apt analogy. An evaluation based only on information gleaned from the media would be considered invalid by all psychological, psychiatric, and counseling organizations.
Obtaining a formal evaluation, I believe, would require that the President submit to such an evaluation, and that ain't happening! What can be done without his consent is a very gray area. In our current climate anything but a dyed-in-the-wool formal evaluation would be roundly denounced as "fake", a political power grab, and a left wing coup attempt.
Thank you for your comment. I see it as reflecting a professional opinion (like that from a licensed psychologist). I disagree however that a clinical assessment is a prerequisite for the Cabinet to take action. For one thing, public evidence of Trump's behavior exceeds what is made available to any clinician in the normal world as part of a individual analysis. Also, action by Cabinet is not dependent on an individual professional analysis (such as a doctor's private analysis) and for good reason. That would essentially surrender this extreme power of the Cabinet to an unknown doctor. It's a judgement call and, as such, should be made as a result of a public debate regarding the mental status of the President based on behavior.
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