Trump’s Own Derangement Syndrome
This letter to the editor, by Laurie Harmon, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on December 25, 2025.
Hateful language has become the norm in America, because of our president’s unprecedented use of racial slurs, blinding insults, derogatory language and recently his tragically unkind words about a recently slain famous director.
Can you imagine a president like Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush or even Barack Obama using such blatantly offensive language to describe a murder victim, members of Congress, governors of states, people with disabilities, and basically anyone with whom he has a disagreement? Unthinkable! This very public form of verbal humiliation has become the “new normal,” and Trump’s supporters are quick to praise him for his “refreshing” and “transparent” approach. Some people even say, “I like him, because he says what we are thinking!” That is not the compliment they think it is. I, too, have thoughts, but only a few of them are worthy of speaking out loud.
I disagree. Insults come easily. They represent a mind that operates on a very basic, emotion-driven response model. They reveal an immature lack of control and childish, impulse-driven behavior, not the actions of a grown person who is the “leader of the free world.” When my grandchildren lose their impulse control and make an inappropriate comment, my daughter often tells them, “That’s an inside thought.” We don’t condone such despicable hate speech, insults and slurs in our homes or in our schools, so why is it okay for people to accept and admire it coming from our president?
Trump’s most recent tantrum: A despicable display in which he made the death of two individuals by their troubled son about him. He suggested that Mr. Reiner’s death was due in part to “the anger he caused others” because he hated Trump so much. That’s an atomic level of narcissism and hatred that, unfortunately, is infecting us as a nation. A leader — and really anyone — should think before they speak, should measure their words carefully and should consider the impact of their words, as words have the power to harm, heal and even start wars.
Unfortunately, we currently have a hateful president who harms us more each day. In fact, the more hate Trump gives, the more his supporters accuse others of hating him, even naming it Trump Derangement Syndrome. The irony is tragic and possibly irreversible.
He should do better. He must do better, because we all deserve a president who can control his tongue, think before he speaks and have the best interests of ALL of us at heart and mind. We can only hope that Congress and the Supreme Court come to their senses and quit granting this loose-cannon president more control than any president has ever had. They need to consider that their own jobs are on the line.