Donald Trump s narcissistic injury

Evangelical pastors pray over Donald Trump.
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Donald Trump's "narcissistic injury" from losing the 2020 election to President Joe Biden has grown into something much worse that threatens American democracy, according to psychology experts.

The former president has been presenting himself as a godly figure as he explicitly threatens to behave like a dictator if re-elected to another term, and several experts from various fields told Salon that was an alarming – if somewhat predictable – escalation of his authoritarian ambitions.


"It’s much too late for Republican voters and Trump supporters," said Joe Walsh, a former Tea Party Republican congressman. "Trump has moved from their champion to their cult leader, to a martyr, and now to some sort of deity. You combine the need for an authoritarian with the evangelical/fervent belief in God’s ordained plan, presto – you have Donald Trump."
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"My engagement every day with these good folks has made crystal clear to me that this 'God complex' contagion had spread, its spread beyond the GOP base and it’s spread to lower information voters who really dislike either party and believe our political system is aloof and broken," Walsh added. "For them, Trump does not come from the normal political system, he comes from the world they come from, he’s been hugely successful, he’s enormously flawed, but who gives a damn, he’s chosen to turn the political system upside down and make it work for them."

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Dr. Lance Dodes, a former clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, told Salon that Trump's psychological pathologies have been plainly apparent all along, and he said the ex-president's mental illness made him dangerous, especially as his legal problems grow worse.

"Mr. Trump is an obvious and severe sociopath, an antisocial person lacking the capacity for honesty, empathy or respect for the rule of law," Dodes said. "His endless self-centered drive for power at any cost makes him an extreme risk of discarding democracy in favor of his personal rule. His recent comments about attacking judges, pardoning the traitorous attackers from Jan. 6, and eliminating his 'enemies' are not new ideas, but rather a sign that his fa;ade of decency and normality is falling away under the stress of having to be accountable for his actions, for the first time in his life."


Dr. Justin Frank, a a former clinical professor of psychiatry at the George Washington University Medical Center who has written about Trump's mental problems, said the former president appears to suffer from narcissistic grandiosity, which created a need for him to retreat into his own mind to withdraw into "total self-love."

" Trump has retreated into Mar-a-Lago now," Frank said. "He is also using Truth Social and his rallies as his psychic retreats. The people at Trump's rallies are also a type of psychic retreat. They surround him and keep him safe. They tell him what's happening, they make sure everything's gonna be okay. They reassure him that he's safe and good and right. Trump is now saying God is protecting him. This too is a form of psychic retreat for Trump."

"People like Trump who have narcissistic grandiosity try to predict the future, and part of that is making statements about how they will be safe from any kind of attack and harm," Frank added. "The problem for Trump is that because he is driven by narcissistic omnipotence, he has experienced one of the worst and biggest types of narcissistic injury anybody could ever have. Trump knew he was going to defeat Biden in 2020 — and he didn't. Trump predicted the future and he lost. That is an attack on Trump's fantasy of infallibility, which may be unconscious. Trump's loss to Biden was devastating to him."

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Trump's Infallibility Myth Shattered: Escalating 'Narcissistic Injury' Danger
Opinion by Zain ul Abedin
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In a recent declaration, Donald Trump has brazenly announced his intent to assume a dictatorial role upon his potential return to the presidency, a statement made during a Fox News "townhall" with Sean Hannity. This audacious claim by Trump, a figure often criticized for his propagandist and authoritarian tendencies, has raised serious alarms about the future of American democracy.


Trump's rhetoric, a blend of truth and deceit, suggests a grim scenario where he envisages himself as the first-lifetime ruler of the United States. This echoes historical instances where dictators, under the guise of a perpetual state of emergency, have dismantled democratic systems, with Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler being a prime example.
Trump's Authoritarian Aspirations
Trump's unabashed ambition to transform into an American dictator, a leader of a so-called Fourth Reich, marks a dangerous escalation in the assault on democratic principles, the rule of law, and basic human decency.

His recent proclamations, including those at an Iowa campaign rally, reinforce this narrative. Trump portrays himself as a messianic figure, chosen by divine forces to lead the U.S., indicating a delusional sense of self-importance and a blatant disregard for democratic norms.

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The question arises: what kind of authoritarian leader would Trump be? His past actions and statements paint a picture of a vindictive, merciless ruler intent on punishing anyone opposing him or the MAGA movement's vision of an ethnically homogeneous, authoritarian America.

Trump's influence and the potential for despotism are magnified by the millions of genuine followers and a support system that includes institutional backing, financial resources, and devoted operatives. This network's willingness to further its ambitions raises severe concerns about the future of America's democracy.

Trump's Descent into Despotism
Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman and vocal critic of Trump, warns that Trump's transformation from a political leader to a quasi-deity figure among his supporters poses a significant threat.

Walsh emphasizes the need for a united front, spanning diverse voter groups, to counter Trump's rise. Dr. Lance Dodes, a former Harvard psychiatry professor, highlights Trump's sociopathic traits and his disregard for legal and ethical boundaries.


Dodes warns that Trump's recent statements about punishing his adversaries are not new but indicate his deepening disdain for democratic processes. A linguistic anthropologist, Marcel Danesi, sheds light on Trump's conspiratorial rhetoric, likening himself to a divine savior.

This narrative, supported by groups like QAnon, enhances Trump's appeal as a messianic figure destined to reclaim power.

Trump's Messianic Complex Explored
Andr; Gagn;, a theological studies professor, discusses how Trump's self-aggrandizing language, particularly at evangelical rallies, reinforces his image as a divinely chosen leader.

This perception, deeply ingrained among his evangelical base, bolsters his political standing despite his moral transgressions. Finally, Dr. Justin Frank, a former clinical psychiatry professor, delves into Trump's narcissistic psyche.

He explains how Trump's grandiose self-view and psychic retreats, such as Mar-a-Lago and social media platforms, serve as safe havens for his fragile ego. In summary, Trump's alarming rhetoric and the cult-like devotion he inspires present a dire warning for the future of American democracy.

His portrayal as a divinely anointed leader and his authoritarian impulses could lead to catastrophic consequences if left unchecked.

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Casting call for political horror movie': Trump's planned admin hires terrify historian
Story by Tom Boggioni  •
12/08/23

Donald Trump speaking with supporters at a
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Reports that former Donald Trump advisor Stephen Miller is recruiting lawyers who will assume positions of power in a second Trump administration have left an ex-attorney of the former president's White House terrified.

According to a report from the Guardian, Miller's America First Legal is rounding up lawyers willing to do Trump's bidding — even if it means opposing constitutional restrictions.


That led Ty Cobb — a noted historian, former deputy attorney general who served under President George H.W. Bush and an ex-White House lawyer — to bluntly state, "They’re looking for lawyers who worship Trump and will do his bidding. Trump is looking to Miller to pick people who will be more loyal to Trump than the rule of law.”
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Speaking with the Guardian's Peter Stone, he added, "Trump doesn’t care about the rule of law or the quality of the criminal justice system. He only cares about fealty to him.”

With the Guardian's Stone writing, "Miller’s legal group, which raked in a hefty $44m dollars in 2022, also has a board seat with Project 2025, a sprawling effort led by the Heritage Foundation and dozens of other conservative groups to map policy plans for a second Trump term — or another GOP presidency if Trump is not the nominee," presidential historian Timothy Naftali warned, "This is a search for people with situational ethics.”

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"They’re trying to screen out people who have higher loyalties to the U.S. Constitution," Naftali went on.

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"It’s likely they’re looking for people whose higher loyalty is to Donald Trump. They’re trying to find lawyers who believe in dictatorship. You have to wonder what kind of people in good conscience could sign up for a Trump revenge tour. This appears to be a casting call for an American political horror movie.”

Former Assistant Attorney General Donald Ayer chipped in, "When you consider the number of lawyers who became Trump’s severe critics after joining the first Trump administration and participating in a lot of questionable actions, selection for a new administration will have to exclude pretty much anyone who has any inclination to defend our legal system or question the president asserting absolute authority.”

Citing a mission statement from Miller's group that states, "“Our security, our liberty, our sovereignty, and our most fundamental rights and values are being systematically dismantled by an unholy alliance of corrupt special interests, big tech titans, the fake news media, and liberal Washington politicians," Stone added, "the mission statement of Miller’s America First Legal reveals its ideological compatibility with Trump’s authoritarian-leaning agenda, of which hard-right lawyers would be assets in implementing should Trump get another term."

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