The person who knows and understands Trump the best isn't a psychologist: + 230 excellent comments

[Rhiannon12866]

The person who knows and understands Trump the best isn’t a psychologist. It is Tony Schwartz who wrote “The Art of the Deal” and spent many hours with Trump over a year and a half. He was on “AM Joy” today and said that if Trump had the power of a true dictator he would be as murderous as Kim.

He said Trump is a mix of paranoia, grandiosity, and cruelty.

He said, “his cruelty is a way of punishing people who he thinks are his enemies.” He went on to say that the things Trump said about Kim demonstrate that Trump has no conscience.

Schwartz emphasized that Trump has no empathy, no heart, and no soul. He said that he grew up with a deep inner emptiness.

“Trump isn’t in the business of empathy, he’s in the business of Trump.”

Schwartz is not a trained mental health professional. However, as a layperson, he has an excellent understanding of psychopathology. He doesn’t make a precise psychiatric diagnosis beyond saying Trump is acting out a severe personality disorder marked by dangerous & pathological narcissism, grandiosity, and paranoia.

More Tweets from Tony Schwartz:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/6/16/1772435/-The-person-who-knows-and-understands-Trump-the-best-isn-t-a-psychologist

[lamp_shade]

1. I'm reading through the comments section. Wow. Many interesting arguments.

Thanks for posting this.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. Thanks! And that's why I decided to post this

This author spent more time with Trump than anyone we know of and he doesn't hold back - his first hand observations confirm everything we've speculated about.

[kentuck]

2. I have seen him on TV a few times...

...and he is very aware of Trump's psychosis'.

[Stuart G]

4. k and r....nt

[smirkymonkey]

5. One of the most chilling comments, and in Trump's case, I believe this is one

we need to watch out for:

"Every narcissists dream: The world ends when they do."

[Hugin]

11. Now, there's an insight not to take lightly...

No wonder the crazy assed apocalyptic evangelicals are drawn to him like flies to... Um, bright light.

Anyway, looking at it now I can see a lot of the preacher from the cult in the "Poltergeist" movie series in the Tangeranus.

[Rhiannon12866]

20. I agree - and he's sure working awfully hard at it.

Some days I feel more scared than others, but it's always there.

[ms liberty]

6. K&R. n/t

[jaxind]

7. The sad thing is...

Whatever emptiness tRUMP felt as a child that made him the monster he is, the sad thing is who knows what scarring he is doing to the separated kids at the border and what emptiness they are feeling right now and what monsters they may become...all because of tRUMP!

[Wounded Bear]

12. That's a fairly common feature of narcissism IIRC...

The desire to do to others what the narcissist feels has been done to themselves.

Sometimes the movies say it best. From Tombstone:

[yallerdawg]

8. This could be called "over the top" and political hyperbole...

if we didn't actually hear the man say these things, see the man says these things, and read his tweets (all of which he will lie about doing right before our eyes).

[Wounded Bear]

13. Trump's a cheap salesman pushing a shitty product...

We are all doomed to watch a real life re-enactment of Death of a Salesman playing out in the White House.

In his world, there are only two adjectives: best or worst. Sure, he uses a few different words, but notice that he has a very small vocabulary. They are all of the superlative nature, whether positive or negative. There are no shades of gray for Trump.

[PatSeg]

16. Exactly

Everything is extremely positive or extremely negative. It is "tremendous" or "a disaster". We rarely see such a public personality with such a limited vocabulary. He doesn't read and he doesn't actually listen to other people, so he just keeps recycling the same old simplistic 4th grade adjectives and adverbs.

[Wounded Bear]

17. Essentially an internet troll...

and being supported by same.

[duforsure]

9. I think he was spot on on trump

And he's very capable of brutality like we've never imagined possible in this country. Trump also is a misanthrope, someone who hates everyone and everything, except himself. I also think he's jealous of these other brutal dictators, and is maybe getting tips how to terrorize the American people.

[Heartstrings]

10. Excellent insight!

And the comments only added to the original article...
I agree with many of the comments as it’s one of my biggest, looming fears as well....what happens to his “supporters” when his reign is over? Scares the bejesus out of me!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

14. Tony shares lots more tRump thoughts here..

His Twitter page: https://twitter.com/tonyschwartz

I appreciated this line:

The great weakness of character in this country is the unwillingness to take personal responsibility for our mistakes, failures and shortcomings. We are nowhere near as evolved as we think we are, and we can’t change what we don’t notice.

Loves to show-off his grandkids and his pets, too!........ ........

[Rhiannon12866]

18. Thanks for that!

His insights are spot on!

[HurricaneWarning]

15. Thanks for posting this.

[Scurrilous]

19. K&R

[kentuck]

21. I think all Americans need to take a hard look in the mirror...

...where are we going? Are we sure we want to travel down this road?