President Donald Trump recently attacked iconic actor and director Rob Reiner in a statement, using one of his go-to terms, shortly after he and his wife Michelle Singer were found dead in their home on Sunday.
The president took the opportunity to lash out at Trump critic Rob Reiner on his Truth social platform on Monday, baselessly attributing the Hollywood filmmaker’s death to “Trump Derangement Syndrome” — a term Trump and his supporters often use to attack those who criticize the president, his policies and rhetoric.
POLITICS: White House retweets Trump’s vile Rob Reiner post to shock social media
“Rob Reiner, a tortured, struggling but once extremely talented film director and comedy star, has passed away along with his wife Michelle, reportedly suffering from a paralyzing mental illness known as Trump Derangement Syndrome (sometimes also known as TDS),” Trump wrote on the social media platform, drawing the ire of others.
Trump’s vile posts about Lehner drew widespread condemnation, with many on social media describing his comments as “disgusting.” Rocker Jack White lashed out at the president on Instagram, writing: “Trump, you are a disgusting, mean, arrogant, loser, child. Neither he nor any of his followers can defend this gross, horrific insult to a beautiful artist who has given so much to the world.”
The president also faced rare condemnation from many Make America Great Again supporters and some of his most loyal supporters. Hours later, he drew further criticism when he doubled down on his attacks on Lehner while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office.
The concept of so-called “delirium syndrome” has been used against critics of past presidents before. But Trump has a history of frequently using the phrase against his opponents. He also used the term against those who opposed him during his first term as president.
Life: Hate musicals? According to therapists, this may be telling about your situation.
Alexandra Cromer, a licensed professional counselor at Thriveworks, believes Trump’s habit of using the term “Trump Derangement Syndrome” reveals much about his leadership style.
“This shows that he is not a leader who values, welcomes or is open to feedback,” she told HuffPost. “This is also a pattern of behavior we see in people with narcissistic tendencies; projecting perceived criticism onto others.”
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on December 15 in Washington, DC. Anna Money Tree via Getty Images
Cromer said Trump’s use of “TDS” exposed an “unhealthy” way of accepting criticism.
Cromer explained that by calling his critics “unhinged,” Trump was essentially trying to undermine “the authenticity of the feedback.”
“It shows that his leadership style is very rigid, very one-dimensional. He is the one who gives orders and everyone else has to obey,” she said. “This is an extremely unhealthy way to receive criticism or any other form of feedback. Psychologically speaking, we know that feedback is not only critical for growth [and] Prosperity, but overall health. “
Life: How to Play the “Defying Gravity” Riff Without Ruining Your Sound
She later continued, “Suppressing criticism by stereotyping and blaming the source can also be considered abusive behavior—that is, an attempt to cause psychological harm and maintain power structures.”
Hallie Kritsas, a licensed mental health counselor and therapist at Thriveworks who specializes in self-esteem, workplace issues and anxiety, told The Huffington Post that she believes the term “Trump Derangement Syndrome” is “polarizing and emotionally charged.”
“It creates a threat and is likely to increase stress and divide the group into two different groups rather than unite,” she said.
Jacob Neiheisel, an associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo’s College of Arts and Sciences, told The Huffington Post that he believes Trump’s frequent use of the phrase is “intentionally dismissive of his opposition” and intended to “provide cover for his followers to dismiss similar criticism they may hear.”
LIFE: We asked real historians about Trump’s new plaque — and they had their thoughts
“I think his use of the word reflects his deep-seated disdain for dissent,” he said. “Trump’s leadership style is certainly not one that welcomes a ‘team of rivals,’ but rather one that demands loyalty and a willingness to fight politically on his behalf.”
Neheiser believes that the reason the phrase “Trump Derangement Syndrome” has become popular with so many Trump supporters is that it “gives them a similar attitude toward dissent in their own social environment.”
He added: “Simply believing that the opposition suffers from some kind of mental illness allows them to protect their attitudes and beliefs from any negative repercussions directed at Trump.”
Experts say there’s a reason Trump’s attack on Lehner prompted rare condemnation from his loyal supporters.
Neheiser believes Trump’s attacks on him reached a “new low” after Lehner’s death.
LIVE: Trump’s statements on economy immediately undercut by latest food prices
“After Charlie Kirk was murdered, the Republican Party took the moral high ground and was able to use the negative comments made after Kirk’s death to attack Democrats,” he said. “With Trump’s response, that high ground is no longer there. I think that’s why we’re seeing some Republicans condemn Trump’s comments.”
Crisas argued that Trump’s comments about the iconic director “violated what some might consider to be a decency in a moment of grief and loss.”
Cromer said Trump’s harsh words about Reiner may be particularly disturbing to many people because the filmmaker is a “universally well-liked person.”
“While Rob is not a perfect person (because no one is), he exhibits a consistent pattern of prosocial behavior and puts his personal values at the forefront of his personal and professional life,” she said.
“Furthermore, Trump’s comments express a belief that people are being murdered because they don’t like Trump; this assertion could be viewed as narcissistic because he puts himself in situations that have nothing to do with him,” she continued.
Cromer later added that overall, Trump’s comments about Lehner “conveyed a lack of respect for the psychological and personal boundaries of those affected by this incident.”
Related…
Read the original article on The Huffington Post