As a narcissist, Donald Trump has always sought to cultivate an environment where he is universally loved. But if that’s the case, then why isn’t he some obscure cult leader in, say, Hollywood, with a few hundred loyal followers all love-bombing him? By seeking a larger stage, doesn’t he only risk more harm to his broken self-esteem?
It’s an important consideration. What motivates Trump to risk mortification (that is, the destruction of his inflated ego, which totally cripples a narc) in order to take the greatest gamble in the world: becoming a POTUS, with all of its demands?
The answer lies in extremes, scale, and the EDGE.
Trump’s narcissism is more extreme than most. His deficit in self-worth is so dramatic, he cannot be content with a smaller following. In the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, he often sought out media attention, taking out ads in newspapers, and finally getting his own reality TV show. Trump could easily have started some obscure business cult, but that wouldn’t please him. He needs PUBLIC and WIDESPREAD worship. A small, minor cult would be stultifying for him. It’s also easier to be held accountable in a small group.
Trump needs public admiration. His thirst wasn’t satisfied by The Apprentice, so he returned to his previous political goals in 2015, this time aiming for president (he’d previously asked to be Bush’s running mate). The enormous boom in attention he enjoyed as a result has thoroughly CAPTURED his imagination. The MAGA Cult he created has given him a taste of the slavish devotion he could enjoy as a dictator.
But narcissists have FRAGILE self-esteem. How does one so touchy enter the political arena, where criticism is to be expected? Trump learned to protect his ego from such attacks by DEPARTING FROM ALL REALITY. Whenever something happens that would imply he’s not doing a good job, he simply DENIES IT and attacks the person who brought it up, smearing them. Thus he learned to protect his own reality from the outside, which of course meant that his reality could no longer be tested in any meaningful way, which means he is dangerously psychotic.
Trump is driven by profound vulnerability. That’s why he NEVER admits fault and ALWAYS reacts like he’s being attacked, even when he objectively isn’t.
The need for more admiration drives Trump to seek wider audiences, but doing so carries with it the risk of exposure to more criticism that could trigger mortification. Trump defends from mortification by doubling down, clinging even harder to his grandiose self-image to avoid reality.
Trump is always living, quite literally, on the edge of where he is capable of living without collapsing. The greater the risk, the greater potential reward for his planet-sized ego. The larger his following, the more grandiose he feels. He’s always trying to outrun his fundamental fragility, but he never will.
Trump LOVES putting down people who disagree with him. It makes him feel powerful. It gives him a momentary boost, but it’s always fleeting, always ephemeral. He always wants more. He can never get enough. The larger his ego grows, the greater his fear of his true vulnerability. It will all collapse one day.
Is it even possible to crush Trump’s ego? He always reacts instinctively to defend himself. He’s able to maintain his ego through an incredibly delicate balancing act. But now that he has more power than ever, there will come a point where he won’t hesitate to silence his critics rather than smear them.
There may well come a time where his critics find themselves imprisoned in concentration camps. The point of a cult isn’t to seek truth. It’s to become the absolute arbiter of what people believe. Just look at what Scientology does to those who try to leave the cult, or look at how North Korea handles those who disagree with the Supreme Leader.
Trump is dancing on the edge. Let’s hope he’ll slip someday soon.
https://bsky.app/profile/bgt0990.bsky.social/post/3lzsu4jgfxc2e
Exactly. Someone with some sense. Trump supports the rich and powerful. He certainly doesn’t care about MAGA apes. Cult leaders actually despise their followers. They need the admiration, but they feel no attachment to these people whatsoever. They’d happily replace them.
Get used to it. This is the path of every authoritarian state. We’re headed for the total dismantling of all true freedom.
Think corporations have any problem with fascism? Think again. As long as there’s profit to be made, they’re in.
Alternate Titles
“Trump’s Tipping Point”
“Donald Trump’s Extreme Narcissism”
“Trump’s Vulnerable Ego”