# Is Trump confused? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 24, 2024, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589 "2024-01-24T13:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 74
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1494 "2024-08-12T01:12:58Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > His fixation on crowd size is so bizarre and pathological. That and ratings of everything. I think _The Apprentice_ warped his brain. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1495 "2024-08-12T01:13:58Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > But Trump absolutely cannot handle the idea that anyone could possible have a bigger crowd than him. It’s not only crowds… ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1496 "2024-08-12T01:15:38Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > Nor would the knowledge that one President had smaller crowds than another diminish that individual. But Trump absolutely cannot handle the idea that anyone could possible have a bigger crowd than him. What contest are you trying to win with this, Donald? What prize do you get? Of course this is a pattern we’ve seen with Trump starting way back in 2016. But just as bizarre is his obsession with ratings and popularity in general. Trump has to get better ratings than Taylor Swift and we’ve heard him “insult” CNN and even individuals by talking about their ratings. Who the hell cares other than Donny? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1497 "2024-08-12T01:20:32Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Trump has a deranged belief that all he has to do is declare something to be true and everyone will fall over themselves to make it so in order to please him. I can’t find it, but clearly recall him giving a plausible explanation of why this isn’t how he works. What he does is trial a new line of attack and see how rally crowds react. If they cheer, he keeps it. If they look bored, he drops it. The flaw in this method is that rallies are just attended by true believers since no one else would stand for the security delays and Trump’s continual lateness. But it at least keeps him close to victory. What is true is that the truth of a statement has nothing to do with whether Trump will keep saying it. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1498 "2024-08-12T01:23:10Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I can’t find it, but clearly recall him giving a plausible explanation of why this isn’t how he works. > > What he does is trial a new line of attack and see how rally crowds react. If they cheer, he keeps it. If they look bored, he drops it. That’s not quite the same thing. This is more of his mob boss “tell people I want them to do something without telling them to do it” approach. He thinks that if he declares he’s agreed to debate Harris on Fox, then the burden is on her to show up or be labeled a coward, and of course he expects Fox News to obey hecause they owe him “loyalty” in exchange for the “ratings” he has graciously given them. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1499 "2024-08-12T02:06:16Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > At this point, Trump has announced shit. Nothing more. Wow. Again: are you addressing me? Assuming that you are: Where did I say that Trump had announced anything that fit into a category other than shit? As far as I’m concerned, everything that spews out of his mouth is shit, for multiple definitions of “shit.” > [@bobot](#): > > Of course Faux wants a debate, and will even play along as though there were one. Wow, again. That’s a reasonable comment. (Well, the first sentence is.) But since I don’t watch Fox News and have not read elsewhere what they are saying, I’m asking: did Fox say that they have scheduled the debate and confirmed that it is planned for September 4, with or without Harris? All I had heard was that they are keeping mum. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1500 "2024-08-12T02:23:26Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > But since I don’t watch Fox News and have not read elsewhere what they are saying, I’m asking: did Fox say that they have scheduled the debate and confirmed that it is planned for September 4, with or without Harris? They have not. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1501 "2024-08-12T02:34:59Z")
Thank you @Smapti, appreciate the info. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1502 "2024-08-12T03:55:00Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Maybe these reporters simply cannot accept the thought ‘I’m reporting on the words and actions of a mentally-ill person.’ And **to save their own image of themselves** —as a serious person doing a serious job—they re-cast Trump’s ramblings as being reasonable remarks from a legitimate political figure. Excellent observation, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1503 "2024-08-12T04:10:46Z")
The Raw Story article is pretty critical, but quotes a lot of Dem commentators. > **[Quiet quitting? Trump's Mar-a-Lago 'meltdown' fuels speculation](https://www.rawstory.com/quiet-quitting-trumps-mar-a-lago-meltdown-fuels-speculation/?rsinfobar&onclick)** > > The first question during Donald Trump's "angry," "rambling, incoherent, demented," "complaining," and "lie-filled" Thursday afternoon news conference from Mar-a-Lago was about campaign strategy, and would he be changing it. No, Trump insisted.... ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1504 "2024-08-12T04:17:46Z")
I, too, loved @aurora_maire 's idea that events have robbed Trump of his craving for personal revenge against Biden. And, I loved @OttoDaFe 's Kipling quote. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1505 "2024-08-12T04:58:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > “Just say we’re having a debate on Fox News” The NYT was happy to oblige him. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1506 "2024-08-12T05:11:15Z")
The Times is in the bucket for Trump, but they’re not the ones that have to host the debate. Fox News won’t schedule anything unless there’s an agreement between the campaigns, because if they did and Harris called their bluff (which she should) then they’d be stuck with an hour and a half of Trump onstage live, and they don’t want that because he will start rambling about election conspiracy theories and get them in more legal trouble. Right now Trump is trying to wish a debate into being and it’s not going to work for him. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1507 "2024-08-12T05:54:05Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > That is unkind. It’s a nice city. My apologies to Harrisburgians. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1508 "2024-08-12T06:04:51Z")
_The Conversation_ ran an article about potential PTSD for Trump as a result of being shot at. Bolding is mine. > [@](#): > > As a result, survivors of non-fatal gun violence face [increased risks of](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2024.100302) depression, anxiety, substance use and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD [can feel overwhelming](https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-and-complex-ptsd/self-care/). People may re-experience the event through flashbacks or nightmares. They may also have palpitations, sweating or breathlessness when reminded of the event. > > **PTSD also often sees people trying to avoid reminders of the event, losing interest in activities,** and feeling numb, irritable and jumpy. They may be constantly watching out for threats, **have difficulty concentrating, have angry outbursts and experience overwhelming emotions.** > > Indeed, many trauma survivors [struggle with their emotions](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2010.04.004). **The person may not understand or be aware of their emotions, find it hard to control them, and struggle to stay focused and avoid impulsive actions.** Given Trump’s [previously reported “uncontrollable”](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Rage/Bob-Woodward/9781982131746) experiences of anger, his emotions and ability to manage them will come under scrutiny. > **[How being shot might affect Donald Trump’s mental health – and that of...](https://theconversation.com/how-being-shot-might-affect-donald-trumps-mental-health-and-that-of-millions-of-others-234709)** > > After the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, speculation surrounds its effect on the 2024 US election. Yet few are considering the psychological impact on Trump himself. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1509 "2024-08-12T06:23:22Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > The person may not understand or be aware of their emotions, find it hard to control them, and struggle to stay focused and avoid impulsive actions. That’s normal for Trump, though. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1510 "2024-08-12T06:47:26Z")
So if true, consider normal for DJT is represented by X. Then add PTSD and maybe normal becomes X2. That would make sense to me given the way he is reacting and going off the rails. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1511 "2024-08-12T07:11:22Z")
It isn’t PTSD unless Trump is constantly reliving the event in his mind in a way that causes stress and dysfunction. Though understandable, Trump’s description at the Republican convention suggests he might be proud of being a survivor. It’s thin beer, and I know nothing of Trump’s thoughts or health. But I am skeptical, the behaviour is similar to that before this unfortunate incident. I suspect any changes are more likely due to his thought he had things well under control under Biden, and does not like losing momentum and media attention as has happened recently. The Project 25 stuff may not be helpful either. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1512 "2024-08-12T07:38:14Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > But I am skeptical, the behaviour is similar to that before this unfortunate incident. I suspect any changes are more likely due to his thought he had things well under control under Biden, and does not like losing momentum and media attention as has happened recently. The Project 25 stuff may not be helpful either. I agree with this. For all his faults and all his idiocy, Trump possesses an animal cunning, and these instincts tell him that this is a must-win election; that it’s the difference between being able to exact revenge on his enemies or facing serious penalties including possible prison time. I am no psychologist, but I’m pretty sure that this ominous threat created by the amazing rise in the polls of Team Harris has really unbalanced him. The self-declared “stable genius” has never been particularly “balanced” to begin with, and this threat, along with what appears to be increasing dementia and the blow to his ego of his imploding campaign and mockery by the Harris side, I’m sure is the main cause of his recent erratic behaviour. The Harris campaign is projecting joyous youthful energy while Trump’s campaign wallows in darkness and dystopia. I suspect that the television-enabled moron whose signature motto is “you’re fired” may soon try to shake up the campaign, and that will make it even worse. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/1513 "2024-08-12T08:35:47Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The Harris campaign is projecting joyous youthful energy while Trump’s campaign wallows in darkness and dystopia. I feel the same. The Harris/Walz ticket has re-energized Democrats. It is a campaign of positivity, of hope, of a bright future. It has actual policies for America, though they may still require fine-tuning. And there’s nothing wrong with a former prosecutor who knows how to make her points effectively, plus a former football coach. As I’ve said before, the latter especially will resonate with a lot of Americans. The Trump/Vance effort is indeed “darkness and dystopia.” It’s one of fear: making Americans afraid—afraid of losing their jobs to illegal immigrants, afraid that such people will illegally vote, afraid of Muslims, afraid of LGBTQ+ people (“won’t somebody think of the children!”), and afraid of “isms,” among other fears. They, and Trump, don’t seem to remember American history: One of FDR’s most famous speeches included the phrase, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Well, Trump is engendering fear, and a large number of Americans are willing to fear it. It is also one of revenge, retribution, and “getting back” at people who have somehow offended Trump. Judges, lawyers, the FBI, the National Archives, the CDC, Dr. Fauci, the media, the list goes on and on. There’s no policy, no “If I’m elected, here’s our foreign policy and our domestic policy.” It’s all “Be afraid of \_\_\_\_\_, and support me in getting back at \_\_\_\_\_.” That’s not what an American President does. It seems to me that Trump is indeed confused about the office he’s running for. > [@](#): > > I suspect that the television-enabled moron whose signature motto is “you’re fired” may soon try to shake up the campaign, and that will make it even worse. I’ve been wondering if the lack of campaigning in the past week has been because he’s busy huddling with advisors, coming up with ideas on how to shake up the campaign in a way that will indeed make it even worse. I hope I’m wrong, but it’s odd that the guy who complained about having to be in a New York courtroom “because it’s keeping me from campaigning,” has not done any real campaigning for a week. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589.md?page=73) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589.md?page=75)