Does Donald Trump Actually Think Hannibal Lecter is Real?

[Nevilledog]

https://themikerothschild.com/2024/07/25/trump-hannibal-lecter/


One of Donald Trump’s signature bits of weirdness in 2024 has been repeated references to the serial killer and cannibal Hannibal Lecter and comparing him to the plight of undocumented migrants crossing the US/Mexico border.

In speeches going back at least to January, Trump has referred to the liver-eating menace as “legendary,” “the late, great,” “a wonderful man,”

So why is the former (and maybe future?!?) President of the United States talking about a fictional character as if he were real, and about a truly monstrous character being a “wonderful” and “great” guy?

Psychoanalyzing Trump is like trying to get squirrels to sing an aria – impossible and not worth the time. But there are questions here that can be answered through research, and maybe by answering them, we can get at least closer to an answer to the question that can’t actually be answered – what the hell is going with this?

*snip*

[oregonjen]

1. Thank you for posting this

It’s so weird how he references “the late, great Hannibal Lecter.” I don’t understand his fascination with a fictional character like that. In fact, I was thinking of posting a thread asking for opinions.

[PCIntern]

2. Yes, wondering the same thing...

My God, this character is considered to be the most evil and diabolical villain in the history of film. Who in the hell would praise his character? Yes, I see being amazed at the literary quality and creativity but my Lord….. sick sick sick.

[Music Man]

3. It's who he thinks the Lecteral College is named after.

[John Farmer]

8. You may have hit it!

[Attilatheblond]

14. Just about fell outta my chair

[allegorical oracle]

4. It's possible that he believes such a serial killer actually existed. He is an extremely

illiterate and ill-informed person. He admires singularly "strong" men and is attracted to the Lecters (even if fictional) because they're baffling and besting the intelligence community. Same reason he admires the current list of authoritarian leaders.

He is a sick man who has no business near the nuclear codes. Hundreds of psychoanalysts have signed petitions regarding their opinions of his mental health.

[AmBlue]

5. Is it possible he's conflating "asylum" seekers

...with people that should be in an insane asylum?? And brings up Hannibal Lecter as if he were a brown person coming over the border to make people feel threatened. Maybe? Sounds crazy, but with the crazy orange convict, it's as likely as anything else!!!

I saw this posted by someone on tiktok, but I cannot find the original post or give credit.

[Pluvious]

7. Here you go...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219227130

[AmBlue]

12. THAT'S IT!!

Thanks! I think she's right!

[Ms. Toad]

13. This makes the most sense of anything I've heard. n/t

[EYESORE 9001]

6. This is my opinion only

I think it’s within the realm that he actually fantasizes about eating someone. Most likely an enemy.

[meadowlander]

9. I think it's as simple as 1991 was the last year he was in touch with reality.

[bif]

10. It's merely because he's batshit crazy

And has trouble separating fantasy from reality. That's all. And he's fit to be the president of the most powerful nation on the planet? Sure.

[Brenda]

11. Here's an article from Frontline 2019 explaining his Snake Story

Yeah, it's weird as fuck the things he says, but it isn't new.

Insects, Floods and “The Snake”: What Trump’s Use of Metaphors Reveals

For years, Donald Trump has used “The Snake” to whip up racist fervor at raucous rallies, said Austrian language researcher Kateryna Pilyarchuk. In a 2018 academic paper, she and a colleague analyzed the role of metaphors in Trump’s nomination acceptance speech, his victory speech and his inaugural address. Across all three, Trump used nearly 350 metaphors, making up 85 percent of the speeches.

Comparing immigrants to animals isn’t a new political trick: the Nazis frequently referred to Jews as vermin, and “metaphor theory” is its own research field in linguistics. There’s also a growing body of work showing why metaphors can be effective motivators.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/insects-floods-and-the-snake-what-trumps-use-of-metaphors-reveals/

His Hannibal Story is the same: He's trying to mash a metaphor of a well known bad guy in American culture with the made-up anonymous floods of criminally insane people coming across our southern border from oh wait, which country, I think he said Venezuela.

He is a racist lying POS.