This is the most significant window into Trump’s psychology since the election.
He is so gravely wounded by his loss, even the usual protections a narcissist employs aren’t saving him.
1/
He is so gravely wounded by his loss, even the usual protections a narcissist employs aren’t saving him.
1/
https://twitter.com/davidcorndc/status/1344672160456048651
The pattern for Trump has always been the exact same without deviation.
When faced with a public humiliation, he 1) broods; 2) scapegoats; 3) adopts a face-saving excuse; and 4) gets back on his feet.
He isn’t reaching #4.
2/
When faced with a public humiliation, he 1) broods; 2) scapegoats; 3) adopts a face-saving excuse; and 4) gets back on his feet.
He isn’t reaching #4.
2/
It is remarkable and striking.
He is so debilitated by the public humiliation of having lost, he can’t even function in the dysfunctional way he used to...
Normally, he’d be posturing about how his loss was actually somehow a win for him. He’d be claiming he benefitted.
3/
He is so debilitated by the public humiliation of having lost, he can’t even function in the dysfunctional way he used to...
Normally, he’d be posturing about how his loss was actually somehow a win for him. He’d be claiming he benefitted.
3/
He would have fully adopted a narrative about what happened *in the past* and would be talking about how great things were for him *in the present and future*.
Instead, he is a month into a spiral he can’t pull himself out of where he is still trying to change the outcome.
4/
Instead, he is a month into a spiral he can’t pull himself out of where he is still trying to change the outcome.
4/
I thought a trip to Mar a Lago would pull him out of that.
He’d be surrounded by people who looked at him adoringly and nodded at his nonsense with love and reverence.
He’d see that his facade of specialness was still intact *there at least*.
5/
He’d be surrounded by people who looked at him adoringly and nodded at his nonsense with love and reverence.
He’d see that his facade of specialness was still intact *there at least*.
5/
But the scene wasn’t the same and he was surrounded of reminders of how his facade crumbled, so the trip didn’t do the trick.
There were fewer people. The NYE event had to be changed because of coronavirus.
And worst of all, Melania made renovations to their quarters.
6/
There were fewer people. The NYE event had to be changed because of coronavirus.
And worst of all, Melania made renovations to their quarters.
6/
He went down to his Cheese Palace desperately needing to feel like he was still so very admired and powerful.
And all he got was an apartment reno that telegraphed “This is where you live now. You actually live at a place where other people just come to play tennis.”
7/
And all he got was an apartment reno that telegraphed “This is where you live now. You actually live at a place where other people just come to play tennis.”
7/
“This isn’t a lavish club you sometimes visit as its wealthy owner anymore. It’s your residence... because you lost your primary residence - the White House - and can’t go back to the prior one - your New York place.”
That was likely a bomb to his already wounded psyche.
8/
That was likely a bomb to his already wounded psyche.
8/
Trump couldn’t face the people he used to rush to see. He pathologically NEEDS ego fuel the way an addict needs a fix. And they were his supply.
Trump is in very bad shape.
Alone, isolated, rendered helpless by the dysfunction of his narcissism, he is in a bad, bad spot.
9/
Trump is in very bad shape.
Alone, isolated, rendered helpless by the dysfunction of his narcissism, he is in a bad, bad spot.
9/
Narcissists, statistically, aren’t all that likely to die by suicide - and I would have a hard time imagining Trump would ever self-harm.
However, a narcissist who cannot escape a profound public fall from grace is in excruciating pain.
10/
However, a narcissist who cannot escape a profound public fall from grace is in excruciating pain.
10/
Their entire persona is a construction to avoid that very thing.
It is like a living death. It’s like severe third-degree burns.
That’s why they turn to scapegoating and face-saving. They NEED to mitigate the ego damage.
Trump is broken. Nothing is working.
11/
It is like a living death. It’s like severe third-degree burns.
That’s why they turn to scapegoating and face-saving. They NEED to mitigate the ego damage.
Trump is broken. Nothing is working.
11/
Maybe he stabilizes. Maybe after the 6th he realizes the delusion of changing the outcome is dead. Maybe he moves on to face-saving then.
Right now though, he is broken beyond repair.
Humpty Trumpty has fallen off the wall and no one can fix the Eggman this time.
12/12
Right now though, he is broken beyond repair.
Humpty Trumpty has fallen off the wall and no one can fix the Eggman this time.
12/12
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