Denial and Normalizing: The Elephant in the Room
People who have cared for family members with dementia know the signs. Many older voters also recognize and express what is often softened in media reports as “worry” or “concern.” Medical professionals, in line with professional standards, keep their opinions to themselves.
The Media’s Role
Media professionals often try to normalize situations and maintain the ritual “horse race” of politics. Reporters frequently correct verbal slips, tighten messy quotes, and ignore cognitive dissonance triggers. They reassure audiences that the system is under control. If readers knew how much normalizing reporters do, the current normalizations might seem less surprising.
Seeing Through the Emperor’s Clothes
Sometimes, it’s not too hard to see through the facade. You just have to look in the right direction. This morning, MSNBC opinion writer and editor Zeeshan Aleem gave us a direct glimpse during a Trump speech last Thursday in Potterville, Michigan. Here goes:
“She destroyed the city of San Francisco, it’s — and I own a big building there — it’s no — I shouldn’t talk about this but that’s OK I don’t give a damn because this is what I’m doing. I should say it’s the finest city in the world — sell and get the hell out of there, right? But I can’t do that. I don’t care, you know? I lost billions of dollars, billions of dollars. You know, somebody said, ‘What do you think you lost?’ I said, ‘Probably two, three billion. That’s OK, I don’t care.’ They say, ‘You think you’d do it again?’ And that’s the least of it. Nobody. They always say, I don’t know if you know. Lincoln was horribly treated. Uh, Jefferson was pretty horribly. Andrew Jackson they say was the worst of all, that he was treated worse than any other president. I said, ‘Do that study again, because I think there’s nobody close to Trump.’ I even got shot! And who the hell knows where that came from, right?”
Unpacking the Speech
Let’s run that by again? Aleem writes that Trump was attempting to criticize Kamala Harris’ record in San Francisco, presumably referring to her tenure as district attorney there.
We humans are programmed to presume that when someone is talking to us, they have something meaningful to say. If the communication is unclear, we automatically “try to make sense of it.” Aleem does his best, but even putting the best interpretation on it, the riff goes sideways quickly.
Trump’s Tangents
Trump’s asides stack atop each other so densely that it’s dizzying for even professional political observers. Why is a presidential candidate leapfrogging from Harris’ policy record to his property losses to his ranking among “horribly” treated presidents? His asides are often unintelligible. What is this alleged anecdote about his San Francisco property meant to convey?
In truth, who knows if Trump can distinguish Kamala Harris from Nancy Pelosi at this point? He has made equally bizarre errors before, such as confusing President Biden with President Obama. His sense of reality has slipped far.
Automated Grievances
He’s riffing in an automated way on grievances, repeating a perpetual whine of victimization. A person with significant dementia can actually sound better than this on the surface. You might have to spend time with them to figure out that they can’t follow a train of reasoning.
Trump’s Obsession
Trump’s obsession with winning the victim Olympics is evident. He forgot more recent Presidents who were shot by would-be assassins, like Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy.
Further Examples
Zeeshan Aleem reminds us that this is not an isolated instance. During a recent event in Wisconsin, Trump’s response to a question about reducing inflation involved talking about Americans not eating bacon and wind energy not working. During remarks this spring, he stumbled from an attack on Biden’s age into a nonsensical story about Cary Grant and Michael Jackson. Compared to his first term, Trump’s inability to focus on one train of thought appears to be growing worse.
Conclusion
In what world is this deranged person running for the highest office in what is still, arguably, the most powerful country in the world? In any reasonable society, he would be in Memory Care or being looked after full-time by his wife. But in this country, he is granted the power to do whatever he wants while others support him in his delusions.
He is being encouraged by bad actors who think his election will help them remake the U.S. into a libertarian’s dream, a theocracy, a male supremacist bastion, an oil executive’s paradise, and Nazi Germany all at once.
It hasn’t even been necessary to mention that he was a sociopath, a malignant narcissist, and a con man enabled by others. He told everyone right out loud that he was a scorpion all along. See the courageous testimonies of Mary Trump.
Whatever this demented sociopath is trying to imply, there is little mystery about it: another troubled, disaffected young male loner with too-easy access to firearms. And a “target of opportunity.”
More Indictments
In the same speech, Trump complained or bragged that he has had more indictments than “Alphonse” Capone. My transcript of the first Trump video below, best I can do:
“…in the last year, I think I had nine indictments, far more than Alphonse Capone, who was quite well known in Chicago, and the environs. He liked killing people. But he had nothing like me.”
Capone was never convicted of murder, or even for his primary occupation, bootlegging. After Chicago became notorious as Mob Murder Town, Federal authorities charged Capone with 22 counts of tax evasion. He was convicted on five counts in 1931 and got an 11-year prison sentence but was released after eight due to failing health.
FAQs on Trump’s Michigan Speech
Here are the top 10 FAQs and their answers related to the recent controversy surrounding Trump’s speech in Michigan.
1. What happened during Trump’s Michigan speech?
During his speech in Michigan, former President Donald Trump made several controversial statements, including claims about his health and mental fitness. The event was widely covered and sparked significant public debate.
2. Did Trump address his health concerns directly?
Yes, Trump did address his health concerns during the speech. He made statements suggesting that he is in good health and capable of performing his duties, despite previous concerns raised by some about his mental fitness.
3. What were the specific claims made by Trump about his health?
Trump claimed that he had gone “commando” in Michigan, implying that he had not worn underwear during the speech. This statement was seen as an attempt to deflect attention from his mental health and age-related issues.
4. How did the public react to Trump’s comments?
The public reaction was mixed, with many expressing concern about Trump’s mental state and others defending him as usual. Social media platforms were filled with both supportive and critical comments.
5. Were there any medical professionals present at the event?
No medical professionals were present at the event to assess Trump’s health or provide any official medical evaluation.
6. Did Trump’s speech violate any medical ethics or guidelines?
There is no clear evidence that Trump’s speech violated any specific medical ethics or guidelines. However, his comments raised questions about his mental fitness for public office.
7. How did other politicians respond to Trump’s statements?
Other politicians and public figures responded with varying degrees of criticism and support. Some called for a more serious evaluation of Trump’s mental health, while others defended him as a matter of personal opinion.
8. Is there any ongoing investigation into Trump’s mental fitness?
No official investigation into Trump’s mental fitness has been announced at this time. However, there have been calls from some quarters for a more thorough evaluation.
9. What are the implications of Trump’s statements for his future political ambitions?
The implications are significant, as they could impact how voters perceive him in future elections. His statements may also influence how political parties and other candidates view him as a potential candidate or ally.
10. Where can I find more information about this topic?
You can find more information about this topic on news websites, political blogs, and social media platforms where the event has been widely discussed.
