I No Longer Hate Trump — Here’s Why

I no longer despise Donald Trump.  I used to despise how profoundly selfish and cruel he could be and how pathologically lying he always is.  But those are symptoms of his being a malignant narcissist.  (The Mayo Clinic has an excellent web page about it, and he presents all 13 symptoms.)

Now I understand what happened. I’m awestruck by his pulling off the greatest Con in human history. He was headed to a prison cell, but he conned 77 million voters, conning his way not only OUT of that cell but INTO the most powerful job on earth.

Having succeeded in that grand con, he’s now in his element as a mob boss. He’s just doing whatever the hell he wants, because he’s drunk with power.  At his fingertips are a $7 trillion budget plus nukes.  He’s entitled to it.  To the victor, the spoils, he rationalizes.  He’s behaving just well enough to increase his hopes for the 2026 midterms, because without Congress, his power is greatly diminished.  Can you say “3rd impeachment”, boys and girls, “and this time with a conviction”?  I’m sure he’s already planning his illegal, unconstitutional or norm violating response to yesterday’s election results.

But for me personally, as a Christian, here’s what’s most important:  There are no exceptions to Christ’s 2nd Great Commandment. We are to love ALL of our neighbors as ourselves, including Trump.  For me that was always a bridge too far, but now that I understand exactly what he is and how he got there, I understand.

He didn’t choose to be a malignant narcissist. He was born that way.  It’s how his brain is wired. But what makes it a perfect storm is that malady, plus his great charisma, relentless energy, and outside the box thinking.  Throughout his life, he has never viewed laws as anything more than rules of a game that he’s playing, and he doesn’t mind cheating at that game.  In fact, that’s part of the game. It gives him a strategic advantage that his competition is too fearful of breaking laws.  Not him.

So now I’m no longer surprised by anything he does. Everything fits precisely with my mental model of him as a mob boss who got into that position by pulling off the greatest Con in the history of the world.  In fact, I must stand and give him an innovation for pulling it off. Bravo, sir!

But if last night told us anything, it told us that when people realize that his entire campaign was based on lies, then they eventually feel used and turn against him (despite all the disinformation that makes him look good to millions). The election results make me hopeful for the midterms next year, if they happen at all.  Wouldn’t surprise me if not.  It might be what he’s starting to plan this very minute.

Gotta love him!  But NEVER stop fighting those of his policies that are evil.

Full disclosure:  I’m age 72 and at a really sweet spot. For the first time in my long life, I’m feeling complete harmony with my political life, my religious life, and my academic life.  No more need to compartmentalize. I just put my religion above my politics when it comes to obeying the 2nd Great Commandment, and come to find out, there’s really no conflict between the two anymore, at least not for me.