Australian Politics Forum - Is Trump a Psychopath?

MeisterEckhart

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #15 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:03am

The confusing of Trump's psychopathic traits for recent cognitive decline probably has more to do with ascribing to Trump what Biden was clearly suffering.

However, psychopaths can display behaviour so out-of-place and seemingly so out of touch with reality that observers could be forgiven for suspecting cognitive decline or early dementia.

They can laugh inappropriately at funerals, or get angry at a joke - even if it's not directed at them. They can misread friendly behaviour as hostility, or find themselves incapable of grief even at the death of a close family member.

The successful ones learn deflective and compensating behaviour, if not outright learned mimicry from a lifetime of observation, that gets them through those moments where they cannot express appropriate and normal human emotion.

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KangAnon

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #16 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:12am

So back to your original post,

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 7:11am:

The first was his reaction to the helicopter/plane crash... Instead of focusing on leading the grief process, Trump reverted to fury at dwarfs and other minorities, indicating he has significant problems expressing empathy, and probably cannot empathise normally.

The second was his recent comment regarding the deal he signed with Canada and Mexico in 2018 - dubbed NAFTA 2.0. When commenting on the deals, he self-deprecatingly quipped, "When I took a look at the deals, I asked myself, 'who the hell made these deals'" to the sycophantic sniggers of his aides.

The real reasons behind Trump’s actions are far more insidious and difficult to dismiss than the lazy cop-out of simply branding him a psychopath. That’s the real point, isn’t it?

Trump’s response to the crash demonstrated that his image mattered more to him than the people who died. It also suggested a fundamental ignorance of what he was even doing when he signed those Executive Orders on hiring freezes. This isn’t just callousness, it’s a glaring indication that he neither understands nor controls his own administration.

We saw it in real time: he didn’t even know what he was signing. He had to ask.

Then there’s the deal he supposedly despised, yet had already signed. Did he forget? Did he never realise what he was authorising in the first place? Is this cognitive decline accelerating before our eyes, or is it simply further proof that he was never actually in charge? That policy and governance were outsourced to whoever had his ear at any given moment?

Queue Project 2025.

These explanations are far more plausible, far more disturbing, and far harder to refute than the overused claim that he’s just a psychopath.

The left calls Trump a psycho every day. If we lump these failures into that narrative, they can be easily dismissed, just more noise.

And that's the point, right? That's what you're trying to do yeah?

And now, we’re supposed to believe that you, the same person who bends over backwards to defend Trump at every turn, the same person incapable of acknowledging plain reality when Musk performed a textbook Nazi salute at the inauguration, regardless of intent, are suddenly worried about Trump’s psychopathic tendencies?

Do you honestly think we’re that stupid?

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Frank

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #17 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:13am

KangAnon wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:02am:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 8:37am:

KangAnon wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 8:34am:

Yeah, you don't know what self-deprecation is...

Yeah, I do...

Something that everyone will tell you who knows him well: he can be very self-deprecating, probably in the way psychopaths can be, in that they take very little seriously, including sometimes themselves.

Also, those who have known him for decades remark on how unchanged he is... they don't perceive any cognitive decline.

You need to do better research. I know you're desperately trying to make a point you don't actually believe for the sake of distraction, but come on, fact-check.

I know you MAGA folk hate to fact-check but come on, it's not hard...

The only example you've given that Trump is "known for his self-deprecation" was Bill Maher, and it didn't even display any self-deprecation from Trump. Self-deprecation involves making fun of oneself and acknowledging one’s own flaws or shortcomings in a humorous way.

What Maher describes about Trump at Hefner’s parties is more about Trump’s indifference to social norms and his unwavering sense of self-importance.

Simply showing up out of place and carrying on as if nothing is unusual suggests confidence (or obliviousness), not self-mockery. And if it's one thing someone so far to the left on the Dunning-Kruger scale has, it's misplaced confidence.

Watch the whole interview, don't just rely on a lazy google search:

If you actually check what Maher has said about Trump, you'll find he has often criticised Trump for lacking a self-deprecating sense of humour.

In his 2016 stand-up special, "Bill Maher: #WhinyLittleBitch," Maher mocked Trump's sensitivity to criticism and his inability to laugh at himself. Maher emphasised that Trump's thin skin and constant need for praise prevent him from engaging in self-deprecating humour.

In a 2013 incident, Maher joked that Trump was the offspring of an orangutan, a satirical reference to Trump's demands for President Obama's birth certificate. Trump responded by producing his birth certificate and filing a lawsuit against Maher, which he later withdrew. In Maher's view, this reaction further illustrated Trump's inability to take a joke at his own expense.

Overall, Maher portrays Trump as lacking the humility and self-awareness necessary for self-deprecating humour, often highlighting his sensitivity to criticism and his propensity to retaliate against detractors.

That's one few, from 10+ years ago. There are others.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/11/09/trump-pokes-fun-at-himself-wh...

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MeisterEckhart

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #18 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:14am

KangAnon wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:02am:

What Maher describes about Trump at Hefner’s parties is more about Trump’s indifference to social norms and his unwavering sense of self-importance.

Simply showing up out of place and carrying on as if nothing is unusual suggests confidence (or obliviousness)

And if it's one thing someone so far to the left on the Dunning-Kruger scale has, it's misplaced confidence.

Ironically, you're confirming Trump's likely psychopathic traits.

An unwavering sense of self-importance... Obliviousness to social norms... both presentations with psychopaths.

And yes, psychopaths can be 'bipolar' in their response to jokes at their own expense...

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Leroy

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #19 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:16am

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:03am:

The confusing of Trump's psychopathic traits for recent cognitive decline probably has more to do with ascribing to Trump what Biden was clearly suffering.

However, psychopaths can display behaviour so out-of-place and seemingly so out of touch with reality that observers could be forgiven for suspecting cognitive decline or early dementia.

They can laugh inappropriately at funerals, or get angry at a joke - even if it's not directed at them. They can misread friendly behaviour as hostility, or find themselves incapable of grief even at the death of a close family member.

The successful ones learn deflective and compensating behaviour, if not outright learned mimicry from a lifetime of observation, that gets them through those moments where they cannot express appropriate and normal human emotion.

Your observations are based on one dimension, have you ever observed Trump at home with his family, have you ever observed Trump in social setting. I'm not disputing you diagnosis but I do doubt that you have the ability to diagnose with such little information.

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KangAnon

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #20 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:19am

Frank wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:13am:

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/11/09/trump-pokes-fun-at-himself-wh...

The examples in there aren't the mic drop you think they are.

Trump’s handling of the "covfefe" tweet wasn’t self-deprecating in the usual sense, where someone openly mocks their own mistake, but it did contain an element of playful deflection. Instead of admitting a typo or laughing at himself, Trump leaned into the mystery:

"Who can figure out the true meaning of 'covfefe' ??? Enjoy!"

This wasn’t self-deprecating in the traditional sense of acknowledging a blunder and making fun of himself. Instead, it was more of a classic Trump move, turning an apparent mistake into a spectacle, keeping people talking, and refusing to concede error.

His supporters saw it as him having fun with the moment, while his critics saw it as an unwillingness to admit fault.

In the context of Q Drops needing bakers to interpret what they meant, Trump was cashing in on that to avoid admitting a mistake within his supporter's eyes.

So yes, I saw that as an unwillingness to admit fault.

True self-deprecation would have been something like, "Oops, late-night tweeting got the best of me, maybe I need a proofreader!"

But that kind of self-awareness isn’t his style. Instead, he doubled down and made it a game, which is more about controlling the narrative than making fun of himself.

Learn the difference.

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MeisterEckhart

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #21 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:20am

KangAnon wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:12am:

The real reasons behind Trump’s actions are far more insidious and difficult to dismiss than the lazy cop-out of simply branding him a psychopath. That’s the real point, isn’t it?

The real reason, eh!! And you know the real reason, because...?

Are you aware of your own Moses complex... lecturing people from the 'mountaintop'? Maybe living a long time alone can fuel outbursts of grandiloquence...

Have you tried transactional analysis? You seem to be stuck in 'Parent' mode.

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KangAnon

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #22 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:21am

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:14am:

KangAnon wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:02am:

What Maher describes about Trump at Hefner’s parties is more about Trump’s indifference to social norms and his unwavering sense of self-importance.

Simply showing up out of place and carrying on as if nothing is unusual suggests confidence (or obliviousness)

And if it's one thing someone so far to the left on the Dunning-Kruger scale has, it's misplaced confidence.

Ironically, you're confirming Trump's likely psychopathic traits.

An unwavering sense of self-importance... Obliviousness to social norms... both presentations with psychopaths.

And yes, psychopaths can be 'bipolar' in their response to jokes at their own expense...

I'm not commenting on the likelihood of his psychopathy either way, but it seems like an obvious ploy to distract from the more accurate, and terrifying explanations for his actions in the two examples you provided.

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MeisterEckhart

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #23 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:24am

KangAnon wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:12am:

And now, we’re supposed to believe that you, the same person who bends over backwards to defend Trump at every turn

Yep! Eric Berne picked your number decades ago!

A read of my posts about Trump would indicate the exact opposite of defending him at every turn... like the ones in this thread, for example... I'm suggesting he's a psychopath... Would you consider that a compliment or in your defence if I said that of you?

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MeisterEckhart

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #24 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:26am

KangAnon wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:21am:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:14am:

KangAnon wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:02am:

What Maher describes about Trump at Hefner’s parties is more about Trump’s indifference to social norms and his unwavering sense of self-importance.

Simply showing up out of place and carrying on as if nothing is unusual suggests confidence (or obliviousness)

And if it's one thing someone so far to the left on the Dunning-Kruger scale has, it's misplaced confidence.

Ironically, you're confirming Trump's likely psychopathic traits.

An unwavering sense of self-importance... Obliviousness to social norms... both presentations with psychopaths.

And yes, psychopaths can be 'bipolar' in their response to jokes at their own expense...

I'm not commenting on the likelihood of his psychopathy either way, but it seems like an obvious ploy to distract from the more accurate, and terrifying explanations for his actions in the two examples you provided.

Are you saying a full-blown psychopath as a US president is not terrifying, or terrifying enough?

Ever seen the movie 'The Dead Zone'?

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MeisterEckhart

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #25 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:38am

Something else I find disturbing is Piers Morgan's unquenchable need to name-drop Trump whenever he can...

Morgan identifies with being a narcissist, at least in that he acknowledges he has a 'very big ego', and appears incapable of assuming we've all got the point by now - that he knows Trump personally.

Just today, in an interview with Zelensky, no less, he told Zelensky that he was 'talking to President Trump recently about the Ukraine war' and suggested that Trump had confided in him about his thoughts on it.

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MeisterEckhart

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #26 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:49am

Leroy wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:16am:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:03am:

The confusing of Trump's psychopathic traits for recent cognitive decline probably has more to do with ascribing to Trump what Biden was clearly suffering.

However, psychopaths can display behaviour so out-of-place and seemingly so out of touch with reality that observers could be forgiven for suspecting cognitive decline or early dementia.

They can laugh inappropriately at funerals, or get angry at a joke - even if it's not directed at them. They can misread friendly behaviour as hostility, or find themselves incapable of grief even at the death of a close family member.

The successful ones learn deflective and compensating behaviour, if not outright learned mimicry from a lifetime of observation, that gets them through those moments where they cannot express appropriate and normal human emotion.

Your observations are based on one dimension, have you ever observed Trump at home with his family, have you ever observed Trump in social setting. I'm not disputing you diagnosis but I do doubt that you have the ability to diagnose with such little information.

In the spirit of Dr Grande... 'I'm not diagnosing anyone, just speculating on what could be happening in a situation like this'

Given I've never met Trump, I don't know what he's like when the cameras are off. However, Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter of 'The Art of the Deal', commented that Trump appeared oblivious to his wife and family when Schwartz was with him while writing the book.

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MeisterEckhart Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 13214 Gender:	Re: Is Trump a Psychopath? Reply #27 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:57am Bobby. wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 8:52am: Trump is not a psychopath - he's just a very naughty boy. Yep! I was thinking of that one if the opportunity came up!
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KangAnon Gold Member Offline The Sandstorm is coming 🎵Doo doo doo doo🎵 Posts: 17855 Mianjin (Brisbane)	Re: Is Trump a Psychopath? Reply #28 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 10:21am MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:20am: The real reason, eh!! And you know the real reason, because...? It's very simple,
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KangAnon

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Re: Is Trump a Psychopath?
Reply #29 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 10:22am

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:26am:

KangAnon wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:21am:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:14am:

KangAnon wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 9:02am:

What Maher describes about Trump at Hefner’s parties is more about Trump’s indifference to social norms and his unwavering sense of self-importance.

Simply showing up out of place and carrying on as if nothing is unusual suggests confidence (or obliviousness)

And if it's one thing someone so far to the left on the Dunning-Kruger scale has, it's misplaced confidence.

Ironically, you're confirming Trump's likely psychopathic traits.

An unwavering sense of self-importance... Obliviousness to social norms... both presentations with psychopaths.

And yes, psychopaths can be 'bipolar' in their response to jokes at their own expense...

I'm not commenting on the likelihood of his psychopathy either way, but it seems like an obvious ploy to distract from the more accurate, and terrifying explanations for his actions in the two examples you provided.

Are you saying a full-blown psychopath as a US president is not terrifying, or terrifying enough?

Ever seen the movie 'The Dead Zone'?

Of course it would be, I'm simply not commenting on that as I don't believe you to be genuine in your claims.

Someone doesn't flip so drastically overnight.

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