It’s time for him to go. With three years remaining in his presidency, President Donald J. Trump’s vainglory, smug self-love and out-of-control hubris is bound to get us in trouble. Maybe it will show up in some kind of crippling domestic policy decision. Or in a dangerous and provocative action on the high seas that will, first and foremost, satisfy his supper ego. And destroy the GOP on election day while he’s at it.

The most recent and appalling example of his unique lack of self-control is his claim that Rob and Michele Reiner’s murders were caused by the “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” As if everything that happens has something to do with him.

By adding his name to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, he makes himself the equal (if not outshines) the iconic president.

There’s his edifice hunger, in the form of drastically changing the classic and historic White House profile by tearing up the East Wing and building a grand ballroom that no one, but him, thought was needed.

Now he’s talking about building a triumphal arch across from the Lincoln Memorial, “bigger than the Arc de Triumph.” Will he call it the Arc de Trump?

As extraordinary as all this is, what’s at stake here is more than a case of a flawed personality. His playing with ships, for example. Twenty-five percent of the U.S. Navy’s deployed warships are circling around in the Caribbean for God knows what purpose. His act of war, such as his blockade of tankers leaving or going to Venezuela. His administration’s inhumane slaying of two defenseless survivors of his bombing campaign against speedboats without sharing with us the evidence they were drug runners.

I’m not a mental health clinician. Even professionals cannot effectively or ethically diagnose anyone from a distance.

But he exhibits some characteristics of a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The Cleveland Clinic summarizes some culled from the American Psychiatric Association’sDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition text revision. I’ve paraphrased and selected some from the full list and you decide for yourself if his personality might endanger us.:

1. Grandiose sense of self-importance. Overestimating his capabilities and bragging or exaggerating his achievements. He can do what he wants, when he wants and where he wants.

2. Frequent fantasies about his supposedly unparalleled success, power, intelligence.

3. Belief in his superiority. Thinking he is unique. Wanting to associate only with those he sees as worthy. Like not attending Joe Biden’s inauguration as president.

4. Need for admiration. He insists that he has achieved unending success “like never seen before.” No one has done better.

5. Entitlement. An inflated sense of self-worth. He’s consumed by anger when people don’t agree with or cater to him.

6. Willingness to exploit others. He takes credit for others’ accomplishments.

7. Lack of empathy. Saying hurtful things. Name-calling. Seeing the feelings, needs or desires of others as a sign of weakness. Not returning kindnesses.

8. Frequent envy. Feeling envious of others, and belittling others’ achievements.

9. Arrogance. Patronizing, snobby, disdainful and condescending.

It doesn’t take much insight to see his impulsiveness, low tolerance for criticism and aggressive communication style. Look how Majorie Taylor Green went from hero to zero when she dared to have a different opinion.

Whatever he does is supposedly historic. How many times does he assert that he has accomplished something like “never before.” Even when he hasn’t. For example, claiming that he has cured America’s “worst ever ” inflation, when the worst actually occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Or his insistence that he has brought down drug prices “600 percent.” Even a grammar school pupil knows that the most that anything can go down is 100 percent.

Some more traits: Extreme reaction to perceived rejection, poor impulse control, and rigid or distorted thinking about himself and others. Over confidence, compulsive dominance, unrestrained anger and denial.

Some Trump supporters argue that all this is “merely his style.” Or that he’s only trying to infuriate his enemies. Or just energizing his base. And that behind his gruff style is a calm, reasonable and thoughtful president.

I don’t buy this anymore than I bought Democrats’ insistence that Joe Biden was “at the top of his game” and was in no way declining.

All of this, of course, is moot. The only way he would leave the White House is if he died in it. No cabinet members would dare challenge his competence and vote to remove him from office, as authorized by the 25th Amendment. They’re afraid of his retaliation.

He’s done good for the country with some of his policies, such as shutting the border. Maybe there are times when his ego and the good of the country are aligned.

Sadly, there are times when they are not.

Share