State of the Union? What about the State of the President?

Future historians may look back on the last few months as a remarkable inflection point in the history of our species:

At a time when Artificial Intelligence is advancing by enormous technological leaps, performing new marvels almost daily, the very human citizens of the world’s greatest power have—with eyes wide open—chosen a dangerously unstable leader who could shatter their nation.

That’s not sour grapes from East Coast intellectuals. Psychologists for decades have diagnosed Donald Trump as suffering from malignant narcissism.

Should we be alarmed?

Extremely.

Here’s how one “objective” source I queried, without mentioning Trump’s name, ticked off the possible consequences of someone with extreme narcissistic personality disorder attaining a position of great power.

It’s a terrifying prediction of what may lie ahead:

“The risks can be profound and far-reaching due to the distinct traits and behavior associated with extreme narcissism. Below is an explanation of the potential dangers (my emphasis added)

1. Authoritarian Tendencies

• Narcissists often demand absolute control and resist checks on their authority.

In a position of power, they may dismantle democratic processes, suppress dissent, and consolidate power to maintain their dominance.

2. Lack of Empathy

• A hallmark of narcissism is a lack of empathy. This can result in indifference to the suffering or needs of others, especially if those needs conflict with their personal goals.

• Policies or decisions may disregard human rights, public welfare, or ethical considerations, as the narcissist focuses on their own benefit.

3. Exploitation and Manipulation

• Narcissists are skilled at exploiting others for personal gain. In power, they might manipulate individuals, organizations, or entire populations to maintain their influence and achieve their goals.

• They may surround themselves with loyalists who enable their behavior while marginalizing or punishing critics.

4. Fragile Ego and Vindictiveness

• Despite their outward confidence, narcissists have fragile egos and are hypersensitive to criticism or perceived slights. In power, this can lead to disproportionate retaliation against critics or adversaries, including censorship, persecution, or even violence.

• Their insecurity might also drive them to make reckless decisions to maintain their image of invulnerability.

5. Prioritization of Image Over Substance

• Narcissists are obsessed with how they are perceived. In power, this can lead to a focus on superficial achievements (such as grandiose projects or public relations campaigns) rather than addressing real issues.

• They may ignore long-term planning or sustainable solutions if these do not provide immediate validation or recognition.

6. Inability to Accept Responsibility

• Narcissists rarely admit mistakes or take responsibility for failures. In power, this can lead to a culture of blame-shifting, scapegoating, and denial of accountability.

• This refusal to acknowledge errors can exacerbate crises or prevent corrective actions.

7. Corruption and Cronyism

• Narcissistic leaders may exploit their position for personal enrichment or surround themselves with sycophants who reinforce their worldview. This can lead to widespread corruption, inefficiency, and erosion of institutional integrity.

8. Erosion of Trust and Division

• Narcissists often thrive on creating division and chaos, which feeds their need for control and attention. In power, they may polarize societies, pit groups against each other, or foster mistrust to weaken opposition.

• This divisiveness can lead to social unrest, weakened institutions, and long-term damage to societal cohesion.

9. Risk of Reckless Decisions

· Extreme narcissists often overestimate their abilities and underestimate risks. In power, this overconfidence can lead to reckless decisions, including military aggression, economic mismanagement, or disregard for expert advice.

Their impulsivity and need for immediate gratification may exacerbate these risks.

10. Resistance to Transition of Power

Narcissistic leaders often struggle to relinquish power, viewing it as central to their identity. This can result in attempts to undermine electoral processes, extend terms unlawfully, or cling to power through force or manipulation.

• Their refusal to step down can destabilize political systems and lead to prolonged conflict.

The source I consulted was Chat Gpt 4-o.

When I asked for historical examples, the list produced in two seconds was daunting: Adolf Hitler (Germany, 1933-1945). Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union, 1924-1953), Benito Mussolini (Italy 1922-1943), Saddam Hussein (Iraq, 1979-2003), Muammar Gaddafi (Libya, 1969-2011), Kim Jong-un (North Korea, 2011-present), Nicholas Maduro, (Venezuela 2013-present), Francisco Franco (Spain, 1939-1975), Idi Amin Uganda, 1971-1979), and Donald Trump (United States, 2017-2021).

To those of you upset or angered by the claim that America’s new president is a malignant narcissist capable of the tyrannical actions listed above, make your own evaluation:

Experts at the Mayo Clinic drew up a list of narcissistic personality disorder symptoms, advising that their severity can vary.

As you read through the list (below), review Trump’s public actions over the last few years- or even days —and place a check beside each item that characterises the new president.

According to the Mayo Clinic, people with narcissist disorder can:

1. Have an unreasonably high sense of self-importance and require constant, excessive admiration.

2. Feel that they deserve privileges and special treatment.

3. Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements.

4. Make achievements and talents seem bigger than they are.

5. Be preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty, or the perfect mate.

6. Believe they are superior to others and can only spend time with or be understood by equally remarkable people.

7. Expect special favors and others to do what they want without questioning them.

8. Take advantage of others to get what they want.

9. They have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others.

10. Be envious of others and believe others envy them.

11. Behave arrogantly, brag a lot, and appear conceited.

12. Insist on having the best of everything. For instance, the best car or office.

At the same time, people with narcissistic personality disorder have trouble handling anything they view as criticism. They can:

13. Become impatient or angry when they don’t receive special recognition or treatment.

14. Have major problems interacting with others and quickly feel slighted.

15. React with rage or contempt and try to belittle other people to make themselves appear superior.

16. Have difficulty managing their emotions and behavior.

17. Experience major problems dealing with stress and adapting to change.

18. Withdraw from or avoid situations in which they might fail.

19. Feel Depressed and moody because they fall short of perfection.

20. Have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, humiliation, and fear of being exposed as a failure.

The A.I. site I queried about the dangers of an extreme narcissist gaining great power added a chilling conclusion:

When someone with extreme narcissistic personality disorder holds great power, their self-centered worldview, lack of empathy, and manipulative tendencies can pose serious risks to governance, societal well-being, and global stability.

Effective checks and balances and public awareness are crucial to mitigating these dangers.

That advice from A.I. makes eminent sense.

But in America, humans still run the show.

Despite being warned of the extreme peril of a new Trump presidency, Americans not only elected the man but—even as we watch—are also enabling him to set up a system with far fewer checks and balances than existed during his first term.

Back then there were ‘adults’ in the White House who resisted what they considered unreasonable orders, talked Trump down, kept him from going off the rails, and gving full vent to his chaotic emotions. They kept him from veering off on dangerous tangents, propelled by which buddy he had just golfed with.

This time, no longer. Trump and his team have purposely surrounded the Presidency with sycophants—zealots chosen because of their slavish intentions to do Trump’s bidding: to let Trump be Trump, without any hindrances, whatever that brings.

This cocoon includes not just his cabinet but also his National Security Council, which includes experts from many fields who advise the president on national and international issues. Only Trump loyalists need to apply. The State Department is carrying out a similar house cleaning.

You would think the country that prides itself on being the world’s greatest democracy would have some mechanism for protecting itself from a rogue president.

In theory, the U.S. does. If the president is incapacitated, the 25^th Amendment of the Constitution allows the Vice President, with the cabinet’s approval and ultimately two-thirds of both houses of Congress, to replace the President. In theory, Congress can also impeach the President.

But, as things currently stand, can anyone seriously imagine Vice President JD Vance or a majority of the cabinet finding the cojones to replace Trump, even if he began foaming at the mouth? Can anyone imagine two-thirds of the current Senate voting to impeach Trump?

The system certainly didn’t work with Biden. Not just his inner circle but the White House staff and top Democratic leaders knew about his cognitive decline--long before the entire world was stunned by it when he went head to head with Trump in debate.

Where were the investigative media, the whistle-blowers, and the White House doctors? Why had no one

sounded the alarm?

But now we have Trump—and we’ve all been warned.