In the series of publications titled The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, a group of mental health experts reported the following findings about his mental health:

• Exhibits malignant narcissism, sociopathy, impulsivity, paranoia, hypomania, and extreme present hedonism:

• • Malignant narcissism is a severe form of narcissistic personality disorder characterized by extreme self-absorption combined with antisocial behavior, sadism, aggression, paranoia, and a lack of empathy. Individuals with malignant narcissism often manipulate and harm others for power or pleasure and may enjoy causing suffering. They show traits such as grandiosity, entitlement, vindictiveness, and paranoia.​
  • Sociopathy is generally understood as a pattern of antisocial behavior marked by a disregard for the rights and feelings of others. Sociopaths tend to be deceitful, impulsive, aggressive, and lack remorse for their harmful actions. Sociopathy overlaps with antisocial personality disorder and includes traits such as chronic irresponsibility, manipulation, and hostility toward societal norms.​
  • Impulsivity is a behavioral trait characterized by acting on urges or desires quickly without considering the consequences. It often leads to rash or reckless decisions and difficulty delaying gratification. Impulsivity is common in various personality disorders and can lead to risky or harmful behaviors.​
  • Paranoia involves an unreasonable or excessive distrust and suspicion of others. It typically manifests as believing others intend to harm or deceive, even with little or no evidence. Paranoia can be a symptom of paranoid personality disorder or occur in other mental health conditions, such as malignant narcissism.​
  • Hypomania is a mood state characterized by persistently elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, and activity levels that are less severe than full mania. Symptoms may include heightened confidence, reduced need for sleep, impulsive behavior, and rapid speech. It is typically associated with bipolar disorder and leads to noticeable but not severe functional impairment.​
  • Extreme present hedonism refers to a lifestyle or behavior pattern focused intensely on seeking immediate pleasure and gratification without concern for future consequences. This may involve indulgence in sensory pleasures, impulsivity, and neglect of long-term goals or responsibilities.​

• This combination of psychological traits creates a “frightening Venn diagram” that risks tyranny when empowered.​
• Trumps’ personality traits display the following characteristics:

• • Trust deficit: Lack or shortfall of trust in relationships or systems, where one party does not have confidence in the intentions, reliability, or integrity of another party. It often leads to suspicion, guarded behavior, and difficulty in cooperation or communication.
  • Fragile self-esteem: Type of self-esteem characterized by being vulnerable and unstable. It involves having positive feelings about oneself that are easily threatened or challenged, requiring continuous validation and protection. People with fragile self-esteem may experience anger, hostility, or mood swings when their self-view is questioned or criticized. This form of self-esteem is often linked to insecurity and can fluctuate significantly based on external feedback or failures.​
  • Revenge orientation: A mindset or attitude focused on retaliating or seeking vengeance against perceived wrongs or harms. It involves an intent to inflict harm or punishment on others as a response to being hurt or wronged, often driven by feelings of anger, resentment, or a desire to restore justice from the avenger’s perspective.

 

• Sociopathic traits like those Trump displays get worse without punishment, causing people like him to become isolated, lie, betray others, and accept violence, bad behavior, and wrongdoing as normal.
• Sociopathic traits like those Trump displays pose “clear and present dangers” to democracy, national security, and global stability due to erratic, irrational conduct unfit for presidency.​
• Trump’s sociopathic traits cause “Trump Anxiety Disorder” in these ways: 

• The progressive intensification (i.e. in scope and frequency0 of Trump’s sociopathic characteristics, including grandiose self-perception and feedback avoidance, raises legitimate concerns necessitating 25th Amendment consideration.
• Donald Trump represents a level of danger that goes far beyond ordinary politics, creating an ethical obligation for professionals to speak out publicly rather than stay silent.

These characteristics are not just problems for Trump to manage personally — which he is not inclined to do. They represent clear and present dangers for all Americans to overcome. Because more than one-third (more or less) of Americans support Trump and find no fault with his mental health or the things he says and does, it is up to the other two-thirds of Americans to aggressively adopt the attitudes and practices of “true patriots” to unseat Trump and his allies from their positions of authority.

There are many social consequences to bad character, but the most serious consequence is that people with bad character are not trustworthy. Everyone knows that it is hard to maintain long-term, trusting relationships with dishonest people who lack good character.

This is true in all kinds of relationships — including with elected officials — where broken expectations regarding campaign promises, honesty and general incivility have the consequence of eroding trust throughout the nation. Perplexity.ai explains why this happens:

1. Broken Expectations Cause Disappointment and Disillusionment
   When expectations are not met, feelings of disappointment often arise. This can lead to disillusionment, where individuals begin to question the reliability and integrity of the other party. Over time, repeated disappointments can create a pervasive sense of mistrust.
2. Broken Expectations Cause Breakdown in Communication
   Broken expectations can lead to misunderstandings and poor communication. When one party feels let down, they may withdraw or become defensive, making it difficult to address the underlying issues. This breakdown can further exacerbate feelings of mistrust.
3. Broken Expectations Cause Resentment and Bitterness
   Unmet expectations can breed resentment. Individuals may harbor negative feelings toward those who have let them down, which can poison the relationship. This bitterness can linger, making it challenging to rebuild trust.

The reason for this dynamic process is that, once in office, politicians’ primary interest is to get reelected. The pressing realities of fundraising inhibit their ability to fulfill promises made to voters so they can focus on the business of governing for the common good of all Americans. In other words, trust in politicians begins to deteriorate as soon as they get elected. Voters would be able to predict this outcome if they qualified candidates for office on the basis of character — not campaign rhetoric and promises.

Self-serving obsession on reelection is an indicator of bad character. Good character always focuses on the interests of others — not on self.

How Lack of Trust Affects Society

The fact that Americans have unfavorable views of politicians basically means they don’t trust politicians — especially at the federal level. Here is what Perplexity ai reports about how lack of trust affects societies:

1. Decreased political participation: When people don’t trust the government, they are more likely to disengage from the political system, for example by abstaining from voting or not standing for political office.
2. Difficulty solving problems: Low trust makes it harder for the government to solve many of the country’s problems. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans believe that low trust in the federal government makes it more difficult to address key issues.
3. Reduced compliance with rules and laws: Low trust can lead to people ignoring official information and guidance, and failing to comply with important collective obligations.
4. Support for anti-system parties: Lack of trust may increase support for anti-establishment or populist political parties that promise to radically change the system.
5. Demands for political reform: Low trust often leads to calls for reforming political institutions and processes.
6. Decreased legitimacy: When citizens become distrustful, the government finds it difficult to command legitimacy and respect.
7. Resource mobilization challenges: Low trust makes it harder for the government to mobilize resources needed to govern effectively.
8. Increased polarization: Intense political polarization, driven by ideological voices on social media, can make it difficult to pass legislation and address major problems.
9. Acceptance of misinformation: In low-trust environments, people may be more susceptible to misinformation and conspiracy theories.
10. Economic impacts: Declining trust can negatively affect economic progress by shortening planning horizons and reducing cooperation.
11. Social cohesion issues: Widespread distrust can damage social cohesion and lead to more disruptive or even violent actions by citizens.
12. Challenges in crisis response: Lack of trust may hamper the government’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies and crises.

In summary, lack of trust in government and politicians has real-time, far-reaching, negative consequences:

• Political instability
• Weak, ineffective government
• Distrust in institutions
• Malfeasance and dysfunction in government
• Social and economic division
• Mental health deterioration
• Radicalized political and social activism
• Violence and rebellion
• Rise of conspiracy theories, lies and misinformation
• Existential fears that country is moving in the wrong direction

Anyone who pays attention to the news knows that these indicators of lack of trust exist in America today. A poll by the Pew Research Center about “Trust and Distrust in America” reveals what most Americans know all too well.

At one level of analysis, the poll is a report card on how well politicians do the job of governing. But more than that, is is a report card on voters’ lack of wisdom in choosing elected leaders that are trustworthy. Voters and politicians are both failing miserably.

The consequences of voters’ failure to exercise their civic responsibility to choose politicians with good character are startingly evident in the negative impacts on mental health and overall well-being that distrust generates:

Depression and Anxiety: Individuals with low levels of trust are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety such as:

• Increased feelings of loneliness and isolation
• Heightened stress and worry about relationships
• Negative thought patterns and expectations

Relationship Difficulties: Trust issues can severely impact a person’s ability to form and maintain healthy relationships. This can manifest as:

• Difficulty being vulnerable or emotionally intimate with others
• Constant suspicion of partners’ motives or actions
• Jealous behaviors and excessive “fact-checking”

The resulting relationship instability and lack of social support can further compound mental health challenges.

Reduced Life Satisfaction: Low interpersonal trust is associated with lower overall life satisfaction and subjective well-being. People who struggle to trust others may:

• Have smaller social networks
• Experience less fulfillment from relationships
• Feel less secure in their daily lives

Increased Mental Distress: Studies have found that low trust in others is a risk factor for frequent mental distress. This can lead to:

• Higher levels of perceived stress
• More days feeling mentally unwell
• Greater difficulty coping with life challenges

Potential for Mental Disorders: While trust issues alone do not constitute a mental illness, severe lack of trust can be associated with or exacerbate certain mental health conditions, including:

• Attachment disorders
• Personality disorders
• Psychotic disorders with paranoid features

Physiological Effects: Chronic distrust can trigger the body’s stress response, potentially leading to:

• Sleep disturbances
• Weakened immune function
• Increased risk of physical health issues

Mental Health America conducted a study of mental health in America. Here are the key findings:

This study quantifies the consequences of raging distrust that exists in America today. The summary below reports how breakdown of trust in politicians, institutions and fellow Americans causes all kinds of social, political and economic problems:

• Political polarization and partisan gridlock
• Gun violence and crime
• Drug addiction
• Mental health crisis
• Racism and social inequality
• Healthcare affordability and access

The common elements of these problems are distrust, anxiety and fear. Psychologists for Social Change explains the relationship between distrust and fear this way:

This analysis makes a powerful argument for electing trustworthy politicians with good character.

Distrust of Politicians Leads to Distrust of Others

Blaming others for problems is a common rhetorical theme in American politics. Low-level, pervasive, distrust makes it easy for Americans to blame other Americans — especially politicians, government, poor people of color and immigrants — for their problems. Politicians reinforce this thinking by blaming those “others” for problems politicians have created. Blaming others exacerbates social/political division and deflects personal responsibility for America’s problems.

Creating a “boogeyman” is a proven way to build party loyalty, attract voters and appeal for money. Hitler used this strategy effectively to make Jews the enemy of Germany. Christian Nationalists use the strategy to amp up the fears many Americans have about immigrants.

By blaming others for problems, politicians excuse themselves and voters from personal responsibility for problems. Politicians who present themselves as saviors from undesirable circumstances make it easy for voters to focus on self-serving policies and conspiracy theories. The electorate rewards that rhetoric with money and votes. These unhealthy, dysfunctional relationships exist because voters don’t know good character from bad and don’t discern lies from truth.

Once they are in office, politicians face the realities of governing in a hostile environment and realize that they are unable to fulfill promises made to voters. Politicians then work hard to deflect voters from their failed promises by blaming others. Failed promises and ineffective governing breeds distrust of politicians and government. Nevertheless, because most Americans sincerely want to use their voting power to effect change, they hold their noses and vote for politicians that they don’t really trust. They don’t know that there is a better way to practice democracy

And so the cycle continues. It’s the democratic way, but Americans must face the reality that the system doesn’t work because they don’t know enough to vote for character.

Although this is a highly simplified analysis, it makes three critical points:

• Voters look to politicians to solve America’s problems with legislation.
• Voters do not consider how they personally contribute to America’s problems.
• Voters tend to choose elected officials on the basis of campaign rhetoric that includes appealing legislative ideas and party affiliation — not on the basis of character.

It should be obvious to all Americans that politicians with poor character will not govern to achieve the aspirations of the Preamble to the Constitution:

The Preamble outlines six broad goals for government:

• Form a more perfect Union that is not divided along racial, social, economic, political, religious or educational lines
• Establish Justice for all Americans
• Insure domestic Tranquility for all Americans
• Provide for the common defense
• Promote the general Welfare for all Americans
• Secure the Blessings of Liberty for current and future generations

Whether they know the Preamble or not, these are the unspoken aspirations (i.e. dreams) of all Americans. Because these aspirations are not realized, Americans put the onus on politicians to fix the problems that obstruct their aspirations. But, because politicians with poor character can’t/won’t fix the problems, angry, disappointed voters don’t trust them. Worse yet, it is often true that people who don’t trust a particular leader will also not trust fellow Americans who do trust that leader. This means that distrust is toxic, contagious and breeds social/political division.

Here are the character qualities of poor leaders that cause distrust:

• What is leadership?
• What is bad leadership?
• Bad leaders lack empathy
• Bad leaders micromanage
• Bad leaders communicate poorly
• Bad leaders are egotistical
• Bad leaders resist change
• Bad leaders lack vision or direction
• Bad leaders have a negative mindset
• Bad leaders are inconsistent
• Bad leaders lack transparency
• Bad leaders are indecisive
• Avoid the pitfalls of bad leadership

Politicians with good character understand that the toxic, relational dynamics of poor leadership spread like a virus throughout the country and spoil the unity called for in the Preamble. Therefore, politicians with good character will, to the best of their ability, legislate to satisfy the aspirations of all — not just some — Americans. But, it must be said that politicians with good character wouldn’t legislate just appease Americans who do not live the American dream, or out of sympathy, morality, religious beliefs or social idealism. Of course politicians with good character will relate to the struggles of disaffected Americans, but their primary motivation will always be to legislate to achieve the goals and aspirations specified in the Preamble to the Constitution. They would be the ideal models of true patriots. This is another sense in which they are leaders with good character