Trumps Mental Health

The following is a clinical description of Donald J. Trump. Information was found based on his words, newspaper articles, television news, documentaries, and tweets. The dynamics of anxiety, power, prestige, possession, narcissism, sadism, competitiveness, fears of failure and lying account for much of this man’s behavior.

Underlying Trump’s personality and character is considerable anxiety which affects inner insecurity and accompanies his push for power. This is an unconscious process. The purpose for this “power” behavior is an attempt to alleviate from feeling helplessness, fearfulness, weakness and/or inadequateness unconsciously. Therefore, it’s an attempt to reduce the unpleasantness which is anxiety.  Hostility accompanies the expressing of “power.” Often, anger-hostility is pushed away from consciousness by the defense of repression. As a result of repression, it doesn’t take much to provoke him, and he is quick to react or explode. So he is trapped by his own anxiety, inferiority and hostility.

 Trump is extremely sensitive to any appearance or perception of being weak or inadequate. To compensate for this insecurity, he displays being in control and by dismissing anyone not loyal or subservient. He appears not to give in nor ever admit to being wrong. He does not seem to take advice from experts and even boasts about knowing more than the general’s or anyone else. To illustrate, Trump visited Dover Air Force Base to witness the return of a Navy Seal killed in air raid gone bad. He shifted the blame to his generals by remarking “This is something they wanted to do.” These character traits are compensations and a defense for his anxiety, inferiority, insecurity or weakness. He has to dominate others and project power regardless of the situation. For instance, at the recent National Prayer Breakfast, he did a fist pump while addressing the crowd.

Trump is fearful of feeling of being regarded or perceived as being insignificant. His “power” rigid bravado of sadistic verbal assaults provides a distortion that promotes his illogical belief that he can master, influence or dominate any situation, no matter how difficult.   Any display of insignificance or weakness for him is simply a disgrace. He has to be in charge or in control.   His need to control results in permitting few to join his circle. Make no mistake- he is the boss. By being the boss, hiring and firing become the norm.  He classifies people as either strong or weak .He despises, with contempt, those that are “weak.”  Really, was war hero John McCain weak for being a prisoner of war.

Trump’s recent attempt to hold up the aid to Ukraine was another example of his drive for power, dominance and control. His phone call was perfect, which meant for him that he was right. His passive aggressiveness was evident by keeping witnesses from testifying and ignoring subpoenas. This is Executive Privilege?  He would not give in because striving for power means that he can’t give in nor admit fault because that would be a weakness. In fact, his attorney said that if the President thought that it was for the public good, then this would be ok. The president holds the most powerful position in the world. This is a perfect fit for this man’s character.

With his anxiety is also his drive for prestige, admiration or stature.  He has a narcissistic desire to impress others, to be admired and respected. To be admired, he flaunts money lavishly and conspicuously. He displays his name on buildings, golf courses etc. Prior to obtaining office, he had numerous radio interviews with Howard Stern. Made contact with reporters from the New York Times in order for them to print stories about him. If you do not admire nor worship him, you are his enemy. He calls various networks and reporters who criticize him as fake and the enemy. In other words, you have to display admiration for this man because if not, you’re seen as a traitor and an enemy. These behaviors do not extinguish his anxiety nor remove him from experiencing an unconscious feeling of humiliation. However, once again, the result of this unconscious mental ordeal or process is met by the repression of hostility. This results in more anxiety and explosiveness. Pelosi, Romney and others, who do not admire him, are seen as enemies.  His turning his back to Pelosi and not shaking her hand during the State of the Union and his diatribe at the Prayer Breakfast are examples of his rage, hostility, verbal abuse and an attempt to humiliate another. He has to humiliate others with his verbal sadistic attacks. He does not forget nor forgive his enemies. He gets even in his passive aggressive ways. Just ask, Comey ,Sondlund, Kelly, Mattis, McMaster. Lt Col Vindman and his brother, Cohen etc.? What can be more humiliating to this narcissist than to be impeached?

His push for narcissistic prestige including his competitiveness, result in him leading, being first and having more than the other every single time. He told others that his inauguration crowd was larger than Pres. Obama’s; his Mexico-Canada trade deal is the best in history; his beautiful  border wall ; claims he’s the most successful president ever and won against impeachment. His self-promotion boasting goes on and on. This prestige drive once again is his defense against unconsciously feeling humiliation. His competitiveness with his drive to avoid failure is strong. He cheats at golf by moving his ball in a more advantaged position or in bending the rules to lower his score every time. He hides his tax returns from scrutiny as it would likely   expose some form of cheating resulting in embarrassment. Furthermore, he even wants Congress to expunge his impeachment from record. Will these behaviors reduce his anxiety or sense of worldwide public humiliation?

This Presidents striving for possession hostility takes the form of a tendency to deprive others by exploiting and restricting them.  He believes that he can outwit others and/or injure them in some way. Earlier discrimination against Blacks from obtaining housing, numerous bankruptcies and withholding money payment from others, not paying taxes are examples of exploitation and withholding. The exploitation from his phony University and Foundation are other examples. He withheld government money from the Ukraine in their war against Russia; received foreign help to win an election; and outwitted the Congress in the impeachment proceedings. The personality tendency to deprive or exploit is anxiety based. His unconscious belief and projection is that others take advantage of him. They cheat and exploit. This is simply a projection He is the liar, cheater and exploiter.

He deprives others with his executive orders and government policies of keeping “others” out of this country with walls or executive orders on immigration. It doesn’t seem to matter that he hires “illegals” to work at his golf club establishments. On top of that, young at the border are taken from their parents. Why should any child have to be taken from their mother during critical periods of their personality development? For many, these separation anxiety scars never heal. Why take away healthcare, pre-existing conditions and deprive so many ill Americans with no plan for improvement? It’s an attempt to deprive regardless of it being Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Budget cuts to Social Security, EPA, CDC, etc. are more of the same. He is sadistic, mean-spirited, hurtful and foolish. This emphasis to begrudge is exploitive and is meant to further divide the haves from the have-nots.

In essence, underlying the striving for power goes back to feelings of inferiority. The quest for prestige is narcissistic and the striving for power and possession are sadomasochistic and withholding. With these personality dynamics, we find anxiety and repression of hostility. He cannot control his anxiety, hostility and attacks. Unfortunately, these make up Donald J. Trump’s sad character and unconscionable behaviors.