BULLIES USE FEAR AS A WEAPON TO HIDE THEIR INSECURITIES
Perhaps the clearest evidence that Trump’s bullying rhetoric is not purely exploitive (i.e. for his personal benefit) lies in the fact that he shows no reluctance to bully, abuse and reject almost anyone — including people who are, or were, his supporters.

Trump’s idea of loyalty is a one-way track. He expects it from others, but he will quickly cut loose anyone who is not 100% loyal to him. His penchant for revenge and retribution does not fit with the concept of exploitation. He can switch from buddy to bully in an instant when anyone crosses him in big ways or small ways. This behavioral pattern is well-documented by psychologists and observers of his leadership and communication style.

Personality Profile: Psychological assessments describe Trump as having a dominant, controlling, and impulsive personality, with secondary traits of volatility and suspicion. These traits make him highly reactive—he can appear outgoing and charming one moment but quickly become belligerent and aggressive if he feels challenged or disrespected. Experts note that this volatility is linked to narcissistic and borderline personality features, including hypersensitivity to perceived slights and a tendency toward impulsive anger.

Documented Incidents: In high-stakes settings—such as meetings with world leaders or public debates—Trump’s mood has been observed to shift abruptly. For example, during confrontations, he can go from cordial to enraged in seconds, raising his voice and resorting to personal attacks or threats when contradicted. This has been described as “borderline rage,” where any challenge to his ego or authority can trigger a disproportionate, combative reaction.

Bullying Tactics: Trump’s style often involves verbal intimidation, mockery, and public shaming. He uses nicknames, insults, and direct threats to coerce or undermine those he perceives as opponents or even allies who do not show loyalty. His rhetoric is confrontational and binary, framing issues as battles between friends and enemies, and he is quick to escalate conflicts rather than de-escalate or withdraw.

Low Empathy and Emotional Detachment: Trump’s lack of empathy and emotional detachment further amplify this dynamic. He rarely considers others’ feelings and is primarily focused on asserting his own interests and dominance, which makes his transitions from friendly to hostile particularly abrupt and jarring.

Trump’s rapid switch from “buddy” to “bully” reflects a personality profile marked by impulsivity, emotional volatility, and a deep need for dominance and validation that is born out of his many fears and insecurities. When anyone crosses him—no matter how minor the offense—he is quick to switch from friendliness to aggression and use bullying as a primary strategy to reassert control and protect his ego.

Bullies exhibit behaviors that mask their vulnerabilities, including fear. Admitting fear would undermine the image of strength and control they strive to maintain. Here are some reasons why bullies don’t admit to being afraid:

Showing fear diminishes image of indomitable strength

• Maintaining Dominance: Bullies typically aim to project an image of power and invincibility. Admitting fear would compromise this image and potentially weaken their influence over others.
• Social Perception: In social dynamics, showing vulnerability can lead to loss of status or respect among peers. Bullies often rely on this status to maintain their position.

They fear showing vulnerability

• Protecting Ego: Bullies may fear that acknowledging fear would expose them to ridicule or exploitation by others. This vulnerability could be used against them, undermining their authority.
• Loss of Control: By not admitting fear, bullies maintain control over their narrative and avoid being seen as weak or susceptible to emotional manipulation.

‎Social and Cultural Pressures

• Cultural Norms: In some cultures, showing fear is seen as a sign of weakness to be avoided — especially for men who may feel pressured to conform to these norms to maintain their social standing.
• Peer Pressure: The desire to fit in with a group or maintain peer respect can also prevent bullies from admitting fear.

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All of these fears are strongly at work in everything that President Trump says and does. Because MAGA followers are closely fused to his identity, his fears and vulnerabilities are also present in his supporters. Therefore, they instinctively adopt Trump’s bullying behaviors to mask the fears and vulnerabilities they share with him — along with high SDO orientation.

In the minds of MAGA followers, Trump’s ability to act out his high SDO orientation with impunity is very enviable. Many of Trump’s more extreme followers (e.g. Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, Three Percenters, Boogaloo Bois, etc.) acted out their high SDO orientation through aggressive bullying tactics before he became President. But because Trump normalized bullying and SDO rhetoric, many more MAGA followers found license to freely express their own social dominance orientation thorough public bullying. This is not just “monkey-see, monkey-do” behavior. The instinct for MAGA followers to act as bullies existed before Trump became president.

RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY

Psychological Analysis of Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky Following Their Epochal Interview

Donald Trump Has Only One Debate Mode: Bullying

Trump, Bullying, And Disrespect