My theory? Pelosi has consulted a behavioral psychologist about Trump's NPD, and decided it's better to trigger a public explosion of narcissistic rage than to coddle him hoping he won't do more harm. That's why she pwned him in his own office + is triggering him at every oppty.
https://twitter.com/johnastoehr/status/1085974525991440386
The shutdown dynamic is fascinating: Trump needs a steady stream of attention + adulation ("narcissistic supply"). The crowds + attention he's received as a candidate + Prez* are, for a narcissist, the Platonic Ideal of Supply -- like a junkie finding God's Own Heroin Stash. 1/
He watches Fox News for the same reason: to supply the endless praise (dopamine hits) that narcissists need. But his failure to secure the promised Wall is harshing his Fox News buzz, as ppl like Ann Coulter + Mark Meadows criticize him for failure: foxnews.com/politics/conse…
2/
2/
He NEEDS the Wall to keep his crowds from turning on him, and he NEEDS his crowds -- again, not for reelection, but more immediately, for Narcissistic Supply. He NEEDS it.
So Pelosi denies it to him. Not just because it's crappy policy, but because she finally has his number. 3/
So Pelosi denies it to him. Not just because it's crappy policy, but because she finally has his number. 3/
And she piles on, pwning him right in the Oval (HIS OWN HOUSE), dismissing his manhood, LAUGHING at him (!) -- literally the most painful insults a misogynistic narcissist can experience. (Google "narcissistic injury.") It causes him real pain.
4/
4/
And now, by denying him the most visible pulpit any American has, the live-televised State of the Union address, where he can be seen commanding the attention of the entire Congress and most of SCOTUS, Pelosi again is denying him his "fix." Trump needs his adulation? Pelosi:
5/
5/
Trump's in a bind. He NEEDS narcissistic supply. Without the wall, he'll lose it. So he tries a shutdown to get the Wall, but that's making his approval numbers plummet: narcissistic injury where he hoped for Supply. So he looks hopefully to the SOTU -- and is blocked.
6/
6/
It's all perfectly calibrated to send a narcissist into a tailspin, which is why I think Pelosi's doing this on purpose. She's MANAGING him. She's figured him out and is purposefully driving him towards a very public breakdown, aka "narcissistic rage."
7/
7/
"Narcissistic rage" is VERY ugly. It's when the narcissist turns against the very people he had been cultivating as a source of Supply. Those the narcissist "loved" are now his enemies. Often, they get slandered/beaten/murdered -- for the crime of not stroking his ego enough.
8/
8/
When the raging narcissist has access to the nuclear button, the idea of provoking his rage is terrifying. But it's also the point when those around him realize with a shudder that they've been living with a monster. It's when the narcissist's victims suddenly SEE. 9/
I don't think Pelosi's trying to make Trump mad at her per se. I think she's trying to make him so desperate that he turns against his own people for not loving him enough to protect him from her, for not loving him despite her, for his poll numbers dropping. 10/
I think she wants him to turn against Fox News. I think she wants him to start screaming AT (not to) the people at his rallies. I think she wants him to make enemies within his own inner circle. And she knows that, Trump being Trump, he'll do all those things very publicly. 11/
And I think she'll succeed. I think his mask will fall in a very public way, and that even his unshakeable 30% base will suddenly wake up and go, wait, WUT? They may consider him a tragic hero + blame libtards for driving him crazy -- but they'll still SEE that he's crazy.
12/
12/
You know the zombie-movie trope where someone sees their spouse/child turned into a brain-eating monster, and sadly shoots them in the head? I think that's Pelosi's plan: to drive Trump to behavior so outrageous that even his enablers say, "it's time to put an end to this." 13/
I can't think of another reason why Pelosi would be trolling Trump in ways so clearly designed to irritate and exacerbate his narcissism. It's a dangerous strategy. It also may be effective. I just hope we don't all die, popcorn in hand, watching the amazing show.
14/end
14/end
PS4: (See how desperately he's reaching out for narcissistic supply?)
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1086395559504764930
PS5: Only Kim and Putin can be counted on to obsequiously stroke his ego, and Putin's off limits right now.
https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1086346489385943041
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