Trump Derangement Syndrome
Photograph by Nathaniel St. Clair
The United States currently has a fascist style authoritarian government led by a corrupt sociopath (or malignant narcissist, if you prefer) and run by a group of lawless incompetents. But an incompetent authoritarian government may not be our worst nightmare.
Words used increasingly to describe President Trump include unhinged, delusional, factually incorrect, and irrational. Trump frequently appears confused and speaks nonsensically. Columnist David Brooks refers to “the unraveling of Trump’s mind.” Many suggest he has significant cognitive decline, not uncommon at age 79. Added to this are the lies and vitriol Trump regurgitates on a daily basis.
Republicans call Americans’ concerns about this “Trump derangement syndrome.” They are right. When a US President seems detached from reality much of the time – while making lawless decisions accompanied by hate-filled, racist rants – derangement does not seem too far off the mark, or at least diminished capacity.
The question beyond Trump’s on-going attack on American democracy is whether we, and the world, can long afford such an individual in charge of the most powerful nation and nuclear arsenal on earth. Constitutional solutions like impeachment, removal under the 25th amendment, or resignation are unlikely with a Republican Party of Trump sycophants.
Large numbers of Americans are finally waking up to what unstable, authoritarian leadership means: Violent “brown shirts” on America’s streets killing innocent citizens, the lawless invasion of a foreign country, the proposed takeover of Greenland, the Justice Department going after Trump’s enemies, a frontal assault on the Constitution and Americans’ civil rights, and, yes, the President’s increasingly insulting and incoherent remarks.
That leaves the 2026 elections as the best opportunity to turn the nation back toward democracy. Historian Heather Cox Richardson, however, fears that an increasingly irrational Trump will cause a crisis of democracy well before the fall elections. Even if we make it to the fall, Trump and the Republicans, faced with dropping popularity, are doing everything they can to rig the elections and, if unsuccessful, to be prepared to overturn them.
At least 24 states have passed more restrictive voting laws since 2020. This past year Republican states began unprecedented mid-decade gerrymandering to favor their candidates. Nationally, the Administration has requested state voter information, which could allow targeted voter influence. Trump has threatened the unconstitutional federal takeover, by Republicans, of elections in fifteen blue states. All of this is to diminish likely Democratic voter turnout, or worse.
ICE and a military presence near voting stations is one of many voter suppression techniques, also unconstitutional, being considered by the Trump Administration. Seizing voting records, declaring fraud without evidence, and gaining support from right-wing media are more forceful possibilities to support canceling election results. A January 6th-like attempt to overthrow an election that favors Democrats is entirely possible under Trump. The 1933 Reichstag fire comes to mind.
America has many positives in its favor: A strong democratic tradition, a still vibrant press, a smaller personality cult than some previous fascist regimes, a mid-level court system still upholding the law, a history of honest elections, and a population that can still demonstrate and speak out. These things are democracy’s defense.
But the growing concern is that the 2026 elections will be manipulated by a controlling and unhinged President lacking any commitment to decency, democracy or the rule of law, supported by an authoritarian administration, and backed by a Republican Party without principle or character. Anything is possible. It is all hands on deck. Stay engaged and stay alert.
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