Trump: A Psychological and Political Phenomenon

  

Trump: A Psychological and Political Phenomenon

Peter Schultz

 

                  Is Trump a reflection or result of a psychological problem or of a political problem? Which is more clarifying: Treating Trump as a psychological or as a political phenomenon?

 

                  Obviously, both phenomena are operative because Trump has a psychological profile and a political profile. So, this isn’t an either/or question.

 

                  Psychologically, Trump is clearly narcissist. He has an inflated ego that allows him to believe he is always justified in his actions and, for that reason, believes he has been rewarded with status and wealth. Moreover, he believes that his enemies, when they defeat him, are only able to do so by means of unfair, covert actions. Their victories are never merited.

 

                  Politically, Trump is pretty much mainstream, despite his attempts to present himself as something else. His commitment to greatness has been a constant commitment of US elites since at least 1789, when the Constitution was first implemented. “Empire,” as in “an American empire,” was a constant theme in elite rhetoric and was reflected by such actions as Jefferson’s purchase of the Louisiana Territory from the French. It was also reflected by the continuation of slavery and in wars against indigenous peoples in America. Generally, and consistently, wars followed the implementation of the Constitution as US elites universally agreed that the US deserved to be and would be a great nation.

 

This greatness had different and intertwined roots: European/white supremacy, Christianity, evangelical religions, modern science, capitalism, and liberal progressivism. The depth of the commitment to greatness, achieved through war, was illustrated by America’s Civil War, fought to “preserve the Union” as the basis of America’s greatness. Once that was achieved, the South was allowed to re-create a form of slavery and an apartheid system that lasted for a century and more. Greatness, being the goal, it was to be achieved even at the expense of justice or human rights.

 

As Trump has embraced greatness, it may be said that his psychological profile, his narcissism has political roots. So, what is needed is a critique and rejection of greatness, insofar as this appeals even to most of Trump’s enemies. As Socrates recommended to Athens, i.e., to Periclean Athens, the US needs to turn inward, turning away from “foreign affairs” – as they are quaintly called – and away from citizenship, and turning toward making souls the best possible.