Donald Trump is a gift to science that allows us to better understand a variety of mental illnesses, how cults work, and the effectiveness of gaslighting.
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The greatest presidents in American history had a lasting impact on the country and the world. The four Founding Fathers who served in the White House gave other countries a blueprint for making democracy work, Abraham Lincoln ended slavery, and Franklin D. Roosevelt returned prosperity to the US and helped end World War II.
But what about the awesomest president of them all (by his own account)? What will Donald Trump’s legacy be?
We believe that, ultimately, he will be remembered as a president who advanced science like no other… not as a champion of it but rather as an example of how various mental illnesses manifest themselves, as a case study on how gaslighting works, and how even a complete idiot with no discernible skills (other than a knack for conning people) can start a cult.
In other words, Trump is a gift to future generations of psychologists and social scientists that will keep on giving.
The former president likes to shower himself and his “accomplishments” with superlatives. In this case, they may actually be deserved.
Trump is probably the most prominent narcissist in history. As we have pointed out, he exhibits every symptom of this mental illness.
He deserves the title “Greatest of All Narcissists” (which is something all of them would aspire to) not only because he became the world’s most powerful person but also because he is so omnipresent and displays every symptom all the time.
Since most of his life has been well documented, researchers might be able to better understand any number of psychological disorders because of him.
Are people born as malignant narcissists or do they turn into them? Do they get worse over time? If so, why? Are there triggering events or is that a gradual process? Did Trump’s daddy issues have something to do with how he turned out?
These are all fascinating questions for experts that have not been answered conclusively.
What about being a compulsive liar? There has never been anybody who has lied as publicly and prolifically as Trump. Sometimes, it seems as though he lies only for the sake of lying. The former president lies both when it benefits him and when it doesn’t.
But does he even consider it lying, or does he just live in a fantasy world in which the things he says are true?
Is the compulsive lying linked to his other mental disorders, like the narcissism or his delusions of grandeur? Sometimes, it certainly seems like it. Many of his lies are tied to the compulsion to be best or to be right. Still, others are not.
Again, this will keep researchers busy for decades. And, when it is all said and done, maybe we can understand liars better.
And, while Fox News is a propaganda network from our perspective, for sociologists it might as well be a 24-hour webcam broadcasting from the inside of a cult. This is unprecedented and could answer questions explaining religious fanaticism, nationalist movements, and more.
That is Trump’s true legacy… and he deserves some recognition for his contributions to science.
Sadly, there is no Nobel Prize for being the best case study for a mental illness.
In addition, even though there are those (including Trump himself), who want to bestow traditional post-presidential honors upon him, these seem inappropriate and insufficient.
You can’t name a bunch of elementary schools after a guy who is so clearly an imbecile (to be fair, if you knew beforehand which schools would be shot up, it would be great to name those after Republicans).
And, even though GOP lawmakers want to change Dulles International Airport to Trump International Airport, that hardly seems fitting since the former president once ran an airline into the ground.
So, what to do?
To cement his place in history, it would seem most appropriate to name one of his mental illnesses after Trump. But which one?
The lying? Probably not. “Compulsive Trumping” sounds a bit… clunky.
What about narcissism? Now we are onto something.
First, let’s consider where the term comes from. In Greek mythology, Narcissus was so smitten by himself that he could love no other.
But Trump far eclipses that beautiful Greek boy in terms of vanity.
Not only is he the best at everything, but, at 6’3” and 215 lbs, he also has the body of a Roman god… this one:
Therefore, it’s time for Narcissus to make way for somebody even more self-absorbed.
We suggest: Donald Trump’s Disease.
Just as Lou Gehrig is now better known for the eponymous illness than his Hall of Fame baseball career, it would be appropriate for future generations to know Trump as the poster manchild for narcissism.
Malignant Trump’s Disease does have a nice ring to it, and it seems like a fitting tribute to a man who will allow scientists to advance the study of mental disorders like no other.
