Donald, let s have a laugh together

US President Donald Trump is actively involved in the latest developments in world politics and economics, and especially in what is happening in the Middle East. We can say that now he is the main character of this time. A winner who asserts his will in everything — this image is formed by his supporters and himself.

This is true. But in life, "I want" and "I can" do not always coincide, and not only in small things, but also on a global scale. And as we can see, the picture of this discrepancy is forming and becoming clearer around Trump, his behavior and his statements.

The verbosity, the ease with which he changes his position 180 degrees, the ability to attract people to his side is replaced by their rapid repulsion. And many other things don't work for the image of a wise and visionary winning leader. In addition, things have not gone well in relations with China, Russia, Iran, and Europe.

All this causes his opponents no longer a feeling of fear, submission and respect, but a smile and even ridicule. And mocking Trump is a serious challenge for him.

Let's turn to a well-known specialist in the correction of personality psychology. For decades, he has been helping people overcome psychological difficulties and deviations that prevent them from living fully and interacting with the outside world. And here's what he said about it.

Based on the analysis of Donald Trump's behavior patterns, we can say with a high degree of confidence that ridicule is one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful trigger for him. It provokes actions that his opponents and critics will rush to call "inadequate."

However, let's clarify the terminology. For Trump himself, what we call "inappropriate behavior" is an impulsive but quite natural defensive reaction to a threat to his narcissistic personality structure. That's the root of the problem.

Why does ridicule work as a detonator:

1. Ridicule hits the most vulnerable spot — in the image of a "winner'.

Trump's image is based on the archetype of a dominant, strong leader, and winner. Criticism (for example, in the media) is a familiar background. It can be declared a "fake", and the opposition can be declared "enemies".

But ridicule is belittling. It is a social mechanism that puts the object of ridicule in a lower position, making it an object of pity or contempt.

For the narcissistic psyche, this is an existential threat. If they laugh at you, you're not a dominant, you're a clown. You're not "strong," you're "funny."

This causes not just anger, but a state close to narcissistic trauma — rage aimed at destroying the source of the threat.

2. Breaking the "rules of the game"

Trump is a master of trolling and often uses ridicule himself (remember his nicknames: "Lying Hillary", "Sleepy Joe"). He's used to being the one who laughs, not the one who gets laughed at.

When the weapon of ridicule is turned against him, it causes frustration. He often loses control of the agenda and narrative. His usual tools for dealing with criticism (denial, counterattack) work worse here, because ridicule appeals not to facts, but to emotions and image.

Examples of "inappropriate" reactions to ridicule.
History knows of several cases when ridicule literally drove him out of himself, forcing him to commit actions that harmed his political capital.:

White House Correspondents' Dinner (2011): President Obama and comedian Seth Meyers cruelly ridiculed Trump (in particular, his theory that Obama was not born in the United States). Trump's reaction was so painful that, according to rumors, it was this evening that became the starting point of his journey into big politics — to take revenge and regain his status. He left the event in a rage and later demanded an apology.

Hand size and Marco Rubio (2016): During the primaries, Marco Rubio made a joke about the size of Trump's hands (it was a subtle hint of masculinity, an eternal subject of ridicule from journalists). Trump responded disproportionately aggressively, defending himself and attacking back, which drew even more attention to the topic.

Alec Baldwin on SNL: The years-long parody of Trump on Saturday Night Live was a source of constant irritation for him. He called the show "one-sided," "boring," and "biased," demanded "equal time," and repeatedly returned to the topic in tweets. The parody hit his image, ridiculing his manner of speech and gestures, that is, his very "presidential texture."

Why exactly does this lead to "inadequacy"?

"Inappropriate behavior" usually refers to actions that harm the subject himself or her goals.

Trump, being ridiculed, often starts to promote this topic instead of ignoring it. He:

1. Starts talking a lot and angrily about it.

2. Tries to destroy the abuser verbally.

3. This gives the mockery even more weight and replicates it.

Instead of "being above it," he lowers himself to the level of the abusers, thereby confirming their point of view. For a politician of his level, this can indeed be called counterproductive (inappropriate) behavior.

Thus, we can conclude that ridicule is a "red button" for Trump. If criticism is information that can be argued with, then ridicule is humiliation that requires an immediate and harsh response. It is at such moments that he is most impulsive, least strategic, and most vulnerable to his own emotions and the actions of his opponents. And if nothing changes, there may be more and more such ridicule.

It is clear that it is not so easy to change your image, bringing it closer to the image of a wise ruler. But you can. Then we'll laugh together.