# How can Trumps narcissism be made to work against him? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 22, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612 "2016-07-22T18:35:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/21 "2016-07-23T09:12:16Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > There is no medicinal cure or therapy for narcissism. Its a personality disorder. Its not even hereditary. The only way psychologist advise on how to cope with a narcissist, is to humor, flatter and avoid him. I’m pretty confident Narcissm is not the only issue that Trump has, read the article by his ghost writer about how he can’t concentrate on one issue for more than a few minutes. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/22 "2016-07-23T12:09:45Z")
Same way the original was hurt by his: Reflecting pools. DEEP reflecting pools, with smooth, placid surfaces. And slippery edges. And a subliminal command coming _just_ underneath the Muzak: “kiss me, you fool…” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/23 "2016-07-23T12:11:55Z")
Same way the original was hurt by his: Reflecting pools. DEEP reflecting pools, with smooth, placid surfaces. And slippery edges. And a subliminal command coming _just_ underneath the Muzak: “kiss me, you fool…” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/24 "2016-07-23T12:45:17Z")
Troll the shit out of him and attack him constantly. Have two prongs – the “official” prong, led by Hillary, Kaine, Obama, Bill Clinton, etc., which hammers him constantly in a serious tone on policy and as temperamentally unfit for office. Then the trolling prong, led by Harry Reid (who’s a master at this) and maybe Liz Warren, with constant insinuations and personal attacks (though not shots about hand/dick size like Rubio) – insinuating that he’s not nearly as rich as he says he is, that he’s a terrible businessman, that he’s a con man, that he never paid taxes (like Reid said about Romney), etc. It has to be relentless – every week each prong has a new line of attack, along with selected leaks from the investigative army Hillary’s team will have been letting loose for the past few months. There will be shit in Trump’s past – I think it’s likely Hillary has a pile of bad business deals, assault allegations, fraudulent activity, etc., ready to drop periodically through the campaign. Attack attack attack. Go negative as hell. Scorched earth and no mercy. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/25 "2016-07-23T12:54:34Z")
Trump is _still_ going after Cruz about [Cruz’s father and Oswald](http://www.factcheck.org/2016/07/trump-defends-oswald-claim/). I wonder how much he can be goaded into continuing his fight with his former GOP opponents. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/26 "2016-07-23T13:02:49Z")
> [@pool](#): > > For instance if in a debate at the end merely throwing in a light-hearted joke about Trump Steaks at the end of an otherwise serious answer about National Policy he wouldn’t even focus on the question he would for several minutes probably defend how Trump Steaks are the best, most succulent, cut of meat ever made, ending with a 5 second non-answer to whatever the original policy question was, probably making him look pretty foolish on national television, and make people question what this guy’s priorities really are in his pursuit of the presidency. I love this idea. After a wonky answer on ISIS, Clinton could end with, “Look, I know I’m criticized for not having a certain charisma. I think you’ll find that, much like a Trump Steak, I may lack that sizzle, but I’m tough as nails.” Trump will spend his whole answer defending Trump steaks, ignoring the question of ISIS. After the next question on budget issues, Clinton can finish with, “My opponent’s plan has more structural problems than one of the towers he’s built.” Then: “My opponent says he’ll fix immigration, but let’s be honest: his plan is weaker than the drinks in one of his casinos.” Then, after explaining how she’ll improve education in the country: “Trump’s education plan is full of holes, and just like the ones on his golf course, these holes will be no fun to fill.” She could prevent him from ever touching on a single policy issue! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/27 "2016-07-23T16:26:48Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It has to be relentless – every week each prong has a new line of attack, along with selected leaks from the investigative army Hillary’s team will have been letting loose for the past few months. There will be shit in Trump’s past – I think it’s likely Hillary has a pile of bad business deals, assault allegations, fraudulent activity, etc., ready to drop periodically through the campaign. Yes, but it has to be surrogates, and maybe Kaine, who do it. Not a problem, there are plenty of Dem pols who already love it. But meanwhile, Clinton herself has to continue to appear presidential - there also has to be a Policy Theme of the Week in which she can demonstrate her mastery and depth etc. on the subject area - environment, education, civil rights, foreign policy, etc. As long as Trump is juvenilely retorting to the constant poking and spewing simple slogans, there will be no way for him to gain support among the convinceables. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/28 "2016-07-23T20:02:50Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Trumps rambling simplifying answers work with his poorly educated target group. This, in spades. Trump is absolutely the grand master of both “Every problem has a solution that is simple, obvious and wrong.” and “Trust me.” Combined, all he has to do is hand-wave off any hurdle for a solution and give his word that he’s going to fix it by Day 2. End of “debate” and as you point out, his followers add it to the feathers in his mighty cap. I mean, he’s going to fix all the farming problems in California by just opening the spigot. By Day 2. Trust him. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/29 "2016-07-23T21:57:03Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Psychologists agree that Trump is a textbook case of narcissistic personality disorder. Which psychologists agree with this? This is a very sweeping statement to make without citation. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Get Liz Warren and Al Franken to coordinate a series of mockery-attacks. Trump will waste a whole lot of time and energy responding. This is actually the way to go forward with this. Trump isn’t fazed by substantive arguments or evidence that he lacks even basic experience or knowledge for the position of president, which he refutes with a combination of self-aggrandizing bombast, pointless misdirection, and personal invective, but he absolutely cannot stand to be made fun or or satirized, especially when the mockers comes close to home, which is kind of a ridiculous personality trait for someone who is basically a walking talking buffoon of cartoonish proportions. Just keep mocking him until he has an apoplectic stroke. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/30 "2016-07-23T22:27:11Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Which psychologists agree with this? This is a very sweeping statement to make without citation. Well, for starters three psychologists from [here:](http://countercurrentnews.com/2016/02/psychologist-explains-trump-is-literally-a-narcissistic-psychopath/) > [@](#): > > Donald Trump is “remarkably narcissistic,” according developmental psychologist Howard Gardner, a professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education. > > “Textbook narcissistic personality disorder,” clinical psychologist Ben Michaelis explained. > > \ > > Clinical psychologist George Simon said that Trump is “so classic that I’m archiving video clips of him to use in workshops because there’s no better example of his characteristics.” He conducts lectures and seminars on manipulative behavior exhibited by narcissists, psychopaths and sociopaths – all related Anti Social Personality Disorders. “Otherwise, I would have had to hire actors and write vignettes. He’s like a dream come true.” And before you say “Well, they are not his therapists, so they diagnose over the net, lame !”. Narcissists hardly ever go to a therapist unless they are forced to. So it is one of the few personality disorders that is usually diagnosed by a psychologist that is not treating the narcissist. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/31 "2016-07-24T01:52:51Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Get Liz Warren and Al Franken to coordinate a series of mockery-attacks. Trump will waste a whole lot of time and energy responding. I think this would be effective if the attacks came the days preceeding a big debate when Trump should be studying and practicing for the debate. You just know he couldn’t resist getting into a twitter war with somebody. The guy is easily distracted. His people could beg and plead with him to remain focused on debate prep and he’d blow them off just to defend himself in an insult spar. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/32 "2016-07-24T02:34:59Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > So his psycholigists have recently diagnosed him with a serious mental disorder youx say? And you want to exploit it? Seems a little low but I suppose you could simlly point out that he is medically unfit for office. Seems open and shut. "Psychologists agree that Trump is a textbook case of narcissistic personality disorder. " It doesn’t say Trump’s psychologists , if that was Trump’s psychologists saying this there would a huge lawsuit ! ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/33 "2016-07-24T04:54:06Z")
There are several different types of narcissism and of all of them there are levels of it. Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama are both narcissists, about a 7 out of 10 for each. Trump is about an 8. For now. He’ll get worse. You guys haven’t see anything. I’ve opened/posted in threads about this before. My Father-in-law is a full blown narcissists and exhibits every symptom to the Nth degree! I’m not kidding, you wouldn’t fucking believe him. If you want to know what he’s like, just read the Old Testament and replace the word “God” with “Giuseppe”. I am not kidding. He makes Trump look like someone with low self esteem. True achievement makes them even worse than they already are. It’s awful. Trump has actually failed in a lot of things. You think he is a terrible narcissist now, just watch if he gets elected. You won’t freaking believe it. It’ll be beyond what you now think you imagine. > [@Maastricht](#): > > There is no medicinal cure or therapy for narcissism. Its a personality disorder. Its not even hereditary. The only way psychologist advise on how to cope with a narcissist, is to humor, flatter and avoid him. You have to avoid them. You’ll drive yourself fucking crazy trying to deal with them. You think you’ll do things to bug them, but they have no soul. They have no ethics, no morals. You cannot make them feel remorse, stupid, or inferior. You cannot make them feel, [at all](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu0rP2VWLWw). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/34 "2016-07-24T05:46:12Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I love this idea. After a wonky answer on ISIS, Clinton could end with, “Look, I know I’m criticized for not having a certain charisma. I think you’ll find that, much like a Trump Steak, I may lack that sizzle, but I’m tough as nails.” > > Trump will spend his whole answer defending Trump steaks, ignoring the question of ISIS. > > After the next question on budget issues, Clinton can finish with, “My opponent’s plan has more structural problems than one of the towers he’s built.” > > Then: “My opponent says he’ll fix immigration, but let’s be honest: his plan is weaker than the drinks in one of his casinos.” > > Then, after explaining how she’ll improve education in the country: “Trump’s education plan is full of holes, and just like the ones on his golf course, these holes will be no fun to fill.” > > She could prevent him from ever touching on a single policy issue! I completely disagree. Clinton isn’t going to out-trump Trump. If it becomes a contest between who can throw the best insults at their opponent, Trump’s going to win. Clinton has to act Presidential and goad Trump into acting like himself. Her strategy has to essentially concede that she isn’t as entertaining as Trump - but remind Americans that the President of the United States is not the same job as being a television star. She has to be the substance to Trump’s surface - and remind voters which is more important. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/35 "2016-07-24T07:52:04Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I understand Michelle Obama is speaking at the Democratic convention. > > I’d sure like to see her explain that Democrats – who will never, ever give up; and will never, ever let you down – know you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond, and you do what you say; that you treat people with respect; and that we want children, in this nation, to know the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them. But make sure to give most of your money to the government, and be sure to respect all the obstacles we put in your way to prevent you from achieving your dreams, starting with making your lemonade stand and/or paper route illegal. As for the actual subject at hand, Trump and Clinton already have most of their negatives built into their numbers. I know we like to say, “Tell us why we should vote FOR you rather than against your opponent!”, but in this election it’s actually so true. We already know what sucks about these candidates. What we don’t know is what is good about them. Throwing negative ads at each other is pointless at this point, it’s just kicking up dust. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/36 "2016-07-24T11:16:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > But make sure to give most of your money to the government, and be sure to respect all the obstacles we put in your way to prevent you from achieving your dreams, starting with making your lemonade stand and/or paper route illegal. > > As for the actual subject at hand, Trump and Clinton already have most of their negatives built into their numbers. I know we like to say, “Tell us why we should vote FOR you rather than against your opponent!”, but in this election it’s actually so true. We already know what sucks about these candidates. What we don’t know is what is good about them. Throwing negative ads at each other is pointless at this point, it’s just kicking up dust. The negative attacks should be to get under Trump’s skin more than to sway voters, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/37 "2016-07-24T11:44:43Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > But make sure to give most of your money to the government, and be sure to respect all the obstacles we put in your way to prevent you from achieving your dreams, starting with making your lemonade stand and/or paper route illegal. > > As for the actual subject at hand, Trump and Clinton already have most of their negatives built into their numbers. I know we like to say, **“Tell us why we should vote FOR you rather than against your opponent!”** \ 😕 That’s a THING? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/38 "2016-07-24T12:07:49Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The negative attacks should be to get under Trump’s skin more than to sway voters, IMO. That doesn’t really do anything either. Clinton’s doing everything we already tried. Only spending a lot more money doing it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/39 "2016-07-24T12:35:10Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That doesn’t really do anything either. Clinton’s doing everything we already tried. Only spending a lot more money doing it. Clinton’s barely done anything. The general election campaign is just starting. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2016, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612/40 "2016-07-24T12:37:48Z")
Well Trump seems to be especially sensitive about his actual net worth, which is almost certainly much less than he claims. I’d love to see the dems dig into this as much as possible then get elizabeth warren to be the one that tweets him the evidence, and run it in some internet video attack ads. Trump will go ballistic. Also, does anyone know if Warren has attacked him yet about all his clothes and even his MAGA hats being made in China? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trumps-narcissism-be-made-to-work-against-him/760612.md?page=3)