TRUMP’S FEARS

Overview
Some experts have argued that Trump’s politics and rhetoric are calculated tactics designed to agitate and exploit Americans’ existing fears for his personal gain. Others argue that everything he says and does in life, business and politics are natural projections of his personal fears and anxieties. The truth is that both arguments are true because Mr. Trump, like all people, is a complex person.

The purpose of this post is not to debate whether Mr. Trump purposely used/uses fear as a tool to get elected and/or exploit his base for money, praise and votes. Rather, the purpose of this post is to demonstrate that Mr. Trump’s psyche (i.e. mind, personality) embodies personal fears and anxieties that strongly affect all his behaviors in life in complex ways. In that sense, he is just like all other people.

This proposition is not exclusive to Mr. Trump. What makes these cause/effect factors worth investigating is the fact that he is the President of the United States. Moreover, he is a president whose rhetoric, policies and behaviors cause worldwide uncertainty and chaos. In other words, understanding of Trump’s fears and anxieties is not just a matter of politics or intellectual curiosity. In fact, what he does and does not do has become a matter of security (e.g. emotional, financial, physical, global, etc.) for all citizens of the world who are victims of his fears.

What President Trump has Said About How He Uses Fear
The degree to which fear motivates Trump’s thinking and behaviors is clearly indicated in a quote he made during a conversation with journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa on March 31, 2016, at the Old Post Office Pavilion, Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. The context of this statement is Trump’s philosophy on leadership and influence when said that instilling fear is, in his view, a fundamental source of real power.

“True power is — I hesitate to even say it — fear.”

Without shame or caution, President Trump explained that instilling fear is, in his view, a fundamental source of real power. The quote encapsulates his belief that fear is an effective means to exert and maintain control over others. Some Americans saw evidence of that philosophy at work in Trump’s first term as president. All Americans and, indeed the whole world, are now witnessing and experiencing the full force of that philosophy in his second term.

Trump’s hesitance to admit that “true power is fear” reveals an awareness of how controversial and ethically charged this view of power is. We can assume that he recognizes that openly associating power with fear may sound harsh, manipulative, or negative to the public and to leaders. And we must give him credit for his candor in making this admission.

By stating, “I hesitate to even say it,” Trump signals that this isn’t a comfortable truth, but rather an underlying dynamic that is difficult to confront and discuss openly, especially for someone in his position.​

When he overcomes his hesitation and explicitly admits it—by saying the very thing he claims to be cautious about—Trump demonstrates a willingness to acknowledge the realities of power as he sees them, no matter how uncomfortable or politically risky such an admission might be. This act can be interpreted in two ways:​

  • He believes that facing uncomfortable truths head-on is a sign of authenticity or strength, even if those truths are not flattering.​

  • He sees the effectiveness of fear as a tool for leadership or influence, and is candid enough to admit that using fear is sometimes necessary to gain or exercise power.​

Overall, his hesitation is a rhetorical acknowledgment that most people prefer associating power with positive traits—like respect or trust—but his admission illustrates that instilling fear is what actually ensures compliance and authority, and he wants to be honest about that.​

Media Analysis of How President Trump Uses Fear
Trump’s relationship with fear is summarized plainly by The New York Times editorial board in its statement “Standing Up to Donald Trump’s Fear Tactics.” In its January 17, 2025, the editorial board warns that there is a real and present danger that America’s institutions could succumb to Donald Trump’s campaign of intimidation and describes how he has long used fear as a tool to coerce opponents, critics, and allies into submission, both in business and politics.

Consistent with his philosophy about using fear as a tool to exert power, President Trump exploits the power of his office and social media reach to create distress for anyone who opposes him, aiming to make dissent and disagreement unbearable and compel self-censorship rather openly challenging him. Here is an excerpt from the editorial:

“True power is — I hesitate to even say it — fear.” This statement was made by Donald Trump during a conversation with Bob Woodward. Fear has consistently been a favored instrument for the president-elect, who has wielded it for years to coerce opponents, critics, and even allies into submission. He constructed his real estate dominance through threats and legal battles against competitors and collaborators.

Through humiliation and aggressive rhetoric, he has intimidated and eliminated political rivals. He has solidified his grip on the Republican Party, silencing dissenters within the G.O.P. through coercion and threats to end their political careers. As president, he exploited the authority of his office and the reach of social media to create distress for those who fell out of favor with him.

The objective of these maneuvers has been to compel individuals to self-censor rather than challenge his authority. Now, as he readies himself to resume his role in the Oval Office, Trump is extending his use of fear beyond Congress to include critical independent institutions like the judiciary, corporate sectors, higher education, and the media. The overarching aim remains unchanged: to dissuade elected officials, judges, executives, and others from carrying out their responsibilities in ways that could confront or hold him accountable. He seeks to render dissent unbearable…. It is imperative that America’s leaders and institutions remain resolute. They must exhibit bravery and fortitude in the face of Trump’s tactics while continuing to fulfill their distinct roles in our democracy. Vigilance is paramount: yielding to fear or coercion — whether by capitulating or justifying the avoidance of conflict — not only emboldens future transgressions but also undermines their own power and influence1.

The editorial outlines how Trump is now extending these tactics beyond Congress to target core independent institutions such as the judiciary, corporate sector, higher education, and the media. The board stresses that this approach seeks to deter elected officials, judges, executives, and others from carrying out their duties if doing so would challenge Trump or hold him accountable. The editorial cites examples of lawmakers and business leaders who have relented under pressure, as well as corporations and tech executives who have shifted to support Trump, often to avoid retaliation or to gain favor.

The board calls on America’s leaders and institutions to remain resolute, emphasizing three guiding principles: conviction to do what is right despite pressure, recognition that loyalty to Trump is transactional and unreliable, and trust in the American system of checks and balances. The editorial urges institutions to resist improper directives, support investigative journalism, and, when necessary, pursue litigation to counter abuses of power.

These are all reasonable responses to President Trump’s use of fear for people who are not already burdened by pervasive fear and anxiety. But the logic of doing the right thing for self and others falls on deaf ears for too many Americans who, like Trump, conduct their lives in a social/political/religious atmosphere of fear and anxiety. This habitual way of thinking handicaps them from doing the right thing for themselves and others. In other words, they think like and act like Trump. The result is chaos.

The editorial board article concludes that yielding to fear or coercion only emboldens further transgressions and undermines the nation’s democratic foundations. The board insists that the country’s principles are too important to sacrifice in the face of intimidation, and that resilience and courage are essential to preserving democracy. These qualities can only be found in True Patriots.

The Power of Fear in Real Time

It is not necessary to be a journalist or academic to understand that Trump’s philosophy about fear has been a consistent feature of his behavior. He employs fear as a tool privately and publicly to coerce opponents, critics, business partners and even allies into submission through threats, public humiliation, and aggressive rhetoric that he uses successfully to silence dissent and consolidate his authority. It is no understatement that he is ruthless and unrestrained in the use of fear to accomplish his personal and political goals. But why he acts this way is the question.

Psychological research and expert analyses indicate that Donald Trump’s psyche is shaped by personal fears and anxieties, but these do not manifest in the typical ways people might expect. Instead of deep introspection or self-doubt, Trump’s behavior is marked by a lack of narrative self-understanding, impulsivity, and a relentless focus on the present moment. He rarely reflects on his past or plans for the future, instead acting in ways that maximize immediate advantage and gratification.

Trump’s personality profile, as assessed by psychologists, is dominated by traits such as ambition, dominance, self-serving behavior, impulsivity, and a tendency toward aggression and volatility. There is also evidence of narcissistic tendencies, which can manifest as extreme sensitivity to criticism and a need for constant validation. While Trump can be reactive—people can “get under his skin”—he is also highly resistant to withdrawal or avoidance, meaning he confronts challenges head-on, often with aggression rather than retreat.

Some experts argue that Trump’s emotional fragility and intolerance of realities that conflict with his self-image predispose him to defensive behaviors, delusions, and even psychotic spirals when challenged. However, he does not exhibit the kind of anxiety that leads to withdrawal or introspection; instead, his anxieties appear to drive him toward confrontation, self-promotion, and a refusal to acknowledge mistakes or vulnerability.

Trump’s personal fears and anxieties strongly influence his behaviors in life, business, and government, but primarily through impulsive, aggressive, and self-protective actions rather than through introspection or avoidance. His lack of a cohesive personal narrative and his need for dominance and validation shape a unique psychological profile that has profound effects on his leadership and decision-making.

Trump has extended this use of fear beyond individuals to institutions such as Congress, the judiciary, business, higher education, and the media always with the goal of making dissent or disagreement with him untenable.

Donald Trump’s public rhetoric is saturated with fearmongering that reflects his fears and stokes the existing fears of his followers. This rhetoric is a defining feature of his political communication. Across rallies, speeches, interviews, and social media, Trump repeatedly paints a dire, apocalyptic vision of America’s future should he or his party lose power.

At his rallies, Trump frequently warns supporters that “you won’t have a country anymore” if he is not elected, predicting catastrophic outcomes such as World War III, economic collapse, and rampant violence by immigrant gangs. He has told farmers, for example, that if he loses, “You won’t have a farm,” and has described scenarios where factories close, farmers are ruined, and an economic “blood bath” engulfs the nation. He also claims that defeat would mean the destruction of Israel and the invasion of American communities by violent criminals.

Trump’s rhetoric often includes graphic and alarming language, such as asserting that migrants will “cut your throat” and describing his opponents in dehumanizing or extreme terms. He has called Vice President Kamala Harris “mentally impaired” and suggested that only he can prevent the country from being destroyed, casting himself as the sole savior in a moment of existential crisis.

Academic and journalistic analyses confirm that fearmongering is central to Trump’s approach. His speeches and social media posts are designed to prick and amplify anxieties about crime, immigration, economic insecurity, and national decline. He often exaggerates or fabricates threats. Political scientists and historians note that this strategy is intended to emotionally mobilize his base, delegitimize opponents, and consolidate his own power by presenting himself as the only solution to the dangers he describes.

In summary, Trump’s public rhetoric consistently leverages fear — often through exaggerated or false claims — to motivate supporters, intimidate opponents, and frame himself as the divine savior who can deliver people from a host of looming threats. To those who do not support him, however, he is nothing more or less than a liar and bully. This analysis is far too simple because it ignores those inner parts of Mr. Trump that harbor fear and anxiety. That makes him just like everyone else.

Resources for Further Study