I’ve often wondered, over the last year, if Donald Trump, is not brilliantly and deceptively intelligent, in behaving before the world as a bumbling, inept, incompetent, buffoon. This is not only a manipulation tactic employed by malignant narcissists, sociopaths, and megalomaniacs, it is an important tactic described in Sun Tzu’s “The art of war”, where it is suggested that one appear weak when they are strong, and strong when they are weak, so that their enemy will be taken off guard. If one looks back on footage of Donald Trump, over the last 20 years, they will notice, he was a douchebag for sure, but he never appeared, as far as I can tell, to be dumb.
Though, since he decided to run for president, he has come off as just plain stupid, naïve and ignorant. So, it could be that, either he is a Malignant Narcissist, sociopath and/or megalomaniac, and just inept at it, or this is all part of his “evil plan” to take over the world! I am just kidding, but only with a very uncomfortable, nervous churning in my gut.
Speaking to himself, about himself
Addressing Polish and American reporters shortly before meeting with his partner in crime, Little Vladdie Putin, Donald Trump made the gaslighting statement, “I think it was Russia, but I think it was probably other people and/or countries, and I see nothing wrong with that statement. Nobody really knows.
Nobody really knows for sure.” I would like to analyze part of the declaration from a particular angle. It is evident that this is Trump, yet again, speaking to himself about himself, and patting his own back. It’s probably just another narcissistic trait the illegitimate emperor demonstrates, but it seems to me, that he could be, unconsciously, and transparently, attempting to insulate himself from the discovery, that he is inadequate, illiterate, weakly minded and finally and ultimately, pathologically dishonest.
It could also be as I suggested in the previous paragraph. He knows what he is doing and is counting on the gullibility, and/or powerlessness of the American public to figure it out and/or stop it.
Shortly after making the above-quoted statement, Trump proposed forming a “cyber unit” with Russia. The unmitigated gall of this fool!
Never mind that he is still under investigation for collusion, forming ANY collaboration with a country that is notoriously deceptive and antagonistic to #America, and many other nations, in diplomatic affairs, is not only unwise, but it's also stupid. The only way that this could be anything else is if the man with the tiny hands, is working directly with Russia, and then it’s not stupid, its supervillain level sinister. Forming a collaboration with Russia regarding cyber matters is akin to handing them the keys to our countries back door. I am not saying that I think the man can do it, of his own accord. We still have checks and balances, right? Do we still have those? It has been unclear to me, as of late.
Malignant narcissist, power tripping megalomaniac, both?
I am no psychiatrist, but I have a pretty good idea about how to read diagnostic criteria. If we go by diagnostic ‘criteria’ alone, then Donald Trump is a malignant narcissist. Bertrand Russell, a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer, social critic, political activist and Nobel laureate, on the subject said: “The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history.”
It's hard to tell which category Donald Trump falls into. Many psychiatrists are chomping at the proverbial bit, to get at him to find out.
The problem with this is, if you know anything about psychology, you’ll know how difficult it is to diagnose either personality profile in that both types are prone to prolific dishonesty. They tend to lie almost as quickly as they draw breath. How could one ever get a good idea what is going on in someone’s head when one cannot ever get an honest answer. There is no scientific test with which to diagnose these traits. But traits and be determined through behavioral observation, and it is that type of diagnosis that is being made publicly by many psychologists and psychiatrists have all but done just that.
The Mayo Clinic writes, "DSM-5 criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder include these features:
- Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
- Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
- Exaggerating your achievements and talents
- Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
- Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
- Requiring constant admiration
- Having a sense of entitlement
- Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
- Taking advantage of others to get what you want
- Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
- Being envious of others and believing others envy you
- Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner
Although some features of narcissistic personality disorder may seem like having confidence, it’s not the same.
Narcissistic personality disorder crosses the border of healthy confidence into thinking so highly of yourself that you put yourself on a pedestal and value yourself more than you value others.”
What should we do?
We may be trying to figure out what went on in this last decade for the next 30 years if we survive. One thing seems certain to me though, and that is that if the validity of the presidency is in question, then so should the functions of the office be, until legitimacy is established. If the sanity of a president is in question, the same holds true. We should be appointing or electing an interim president until the seated president can be diagnosed as sane and able to successfully carry out the duties of the office of president. The same should also hold true for the staff under said president.
