The news headlines took my breath away. "Trump has a forty percent chance of becoming President." "Clinton plummeting in the polls, Trump gaining momentum." I was certain Hillary would win in a landslide and everyone would see the emperor without his clothes on. It was just not possible for this guy to be elected by the people. How could I have been so wrong?
Being someone who lives and breathes therapy, I was able to shift my vantage point and see everything that was happening through a clinical lens. For a year, Trump bombarded us with clinical red flags screaming for action. I was surprised more mental health practitioners didn't address these pathological symptoms and their implications for fitness and risk.
As warning signals continue flashing, more mental health professionals begin addressing Trump's unfitness and the grave risks he poses. Just as Paul Revere did two centuries ago, it's today's mental health community who bears the responsibility to sound the alarm when there are threats to public safety by illuminating when someone is unfit for duty and the multitude of dangers and risks an unfit President poses.
(Due to the American Psychiatric Association's Goldwater Rule (1964), which prohibits professionals from using publicly available information as diagnostic sources, any assessment must be unofficial and based entirely on public conduct.)
A Psychological Evaluation
While it's impossible to diagnose someone without a direct clinical assessment, Trump's public behavior provides more than enough data to draw troubling conclusions. Based on his conduct, he exhibits clear traits of severe narcissism (referred to as a "malignant narcissist") and sociopathy — an extraordinarily dangerous combination for a leader.
Narcissistic Traits
- Grandiose self-importance and superiority complexes
- Exaggeration of achievements with expectations of unwarranted admiration
- Exploitative behavior and lack of empathy
- Entitlement and arrogant attitudes
- Arrogant, haughty behavior
- Lack of self-awareness or awareness of impact on others
Sociopathic Tendencies
- Pathological lying, woven seamlessly into his persona
- A pervasive disregard for others' rights, evidenced by racist, sexist, and xenophobic rhetoric
- Impulsive, reckless statements
- A lack of remorse, as shown in his response to the Access Hollywood tape
- Complete lack of empathy — including mocking a disabled reporter and humiliating Gold Star parents
More severe disorders mean greater emotional instability, affecting temperament and judgment. The presidency requires specific skills, knowledge, and experience. For President, we need baseline stability, sound judgment amid chaos, and diplomatic skill.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates put it bluntly: "Trump is stubbornly uninformed about the world, temperamentally unsuited to lead, and unfit to be commander-in-chief."
The Little Red Riding Hood of Disorders
Trump's unique blend of narcissism and sociopathy is like the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood — dangerous and deceptive. By the time you realize the threat, the damage is done.
Grave Concerns
In 2015, Andreas Lubitz, a Germanwings pilot, deliberately crashed Flight 9525 into the French Alps, killing all 156 passengers on board. What makes this tragedy even more horrifying is that it was preventable. Lubitz had been flagged by psychiatrists as unfit to fly, showing clear signs of depression and suicidal ideation. Yet, he was allowed to take the controls.
The parallels are striking — and chilling. Both Lubitz and Trump displayed unmistakable signs of unfitness for their roles. Both were enabled by systems and individuals unwilling to act on the warnings.
What Must Be Done?
History is repeating itself, but we still have time to act. Society needs training on assessing psychological fitness and risk to make informed voting decisions. If governmental action fails, the American people must mobilize. As citizens, we have the power to demand accountability, restore stability, and prevent catastrophic harm.