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Psychiatrist about Trump: We're entering perhaps the most dangerous period of his presidency.
This is from forensic psychiatrist Dr. Bandy X. Lee:
https://hillreporter.com/expect-an-acceleration-of-the-chaos-with-trump-in-2019-an-interview-with-forensic-psychiatrist-dr-bandy-x-lee-20995
CW: As we start off the new year, we’re facing plenty of challenges as a nation — some of them of the president’s own making. Trump’s behavior during the shutdown, his inconsistency on whether we’ve succeeded in defeating ISIS or not, and other issues come to my mind. Is 2019 going to be a kinder year to Trump, or are we going to see more signs of his erratic and disturbing behavior surface?
BL: I think it’s going to be a very dangerous year in which we will see an acceleration of the chaos and disturbances that have happened in the past. Regardless of where it’s occurring, what we’re observing are psychological phenomena. Psychological dangerousness in the office of the presidency will translate into geopolitical dangerousness.
We are at a very dangerous place because he has eliminated all moderating forces around him, with the resignation of General James Mattis; the shutdown that he has incurred because of the need for an irrational border wall; and the fact he is considering a declaration of an emergency at the border. We know that if the president declares a national state of emergency then incredible powers will be at his disposal.
Dangerousness is not a diagnosis as much as it is an assessment of the situation. We have to think about the situation of Mr. Trump still holding great power, which has grown over time.
But we know there is a lot of chaos at the White House, and in world affairs there is increasing chaos and instability where it is unknown when or where a war may break out next. There is simply no limit to which he would go to protect his own inflated self-image, to protect himself from the humiliation of an encroaching indictment or when he cannot say he is “winning” anymore. His mental challenges could cause him to use his powers as president to take unpredictable, extreme, and potentially dangerous measures. So we’re entering perhaps the most dangerous period of his presidency.
As a medical professional, it is quite distressing to see because the medical standard of care would have been to intervene much earlier. A thorough evaluation could reveal a diagnosis, and I think at this point it’s also important for the public to know, since they will be directly affected.
-snip-
CW: Finally Dr. Lee, I want to ask, should we aim toward removing Trump from office before the 2020 election comes about?
BL: I think that is unavoidable. We can only expect the dangerousness to worsen and accelerate. If we had any concern at all about national security, or even the survival of the human species (given the technological powers that are invested in the president), with this level of mental instability, with greater dangers to come because of the impending [special counsel’s] investigation reports, without sufficient containment of the president, I believe removal would be in order.
All of this could be answered more precisely with an evaluation, of course, but I think Trump has shown enough to demonstrate he is in no state to continue his presidency for another two years.
BL: I think it’s going to be a very dangerous year in which we will see an acceleration of the chaos and disturbances that have happened in the past. Regardless of where it’s occurring, what we’re observing are psychological phenomena. Psychological dangerousness in the office of the presidency will translate into geopolitical dangerousness.
We are at a very dangerous place because he has eliminated all moderating forces around him, with the resignation of General James Mattis; the shutdown that he has incurred because of the need for an irrational border wall; and the fact he is considering a declaration of an emergency at the border. We know that if the president declares a national state of emergency then incredible powers will be at his disposal.
Dangerousness is not a diagnosis as much as it is an assessment of the situation. We have to think about the situation of Mr. Trump still holding great power, which has grown over time.
But we know there is a lot of chaos at the White House, and in world affairs there is increasing chaos and instability where it is unknown when or where a war may break out next. There is simply no limit to which he would go to protect his own inflated self-image, to protect himself from the humiliation of an encroaching indictment or when he cannot say he is “winning” anymore. His mental challenges could cause him to use his powers as president to take unpredictable, extreme, and potentially dangerous measures. So we’re entering perhaps the most dangerous period of his presidency.
As a medical professional, it is quite distressing to see because the medical standard of care would have been to intervene much earlier. A thorough evaluation could reveal a diagnosis, and I think at this point it’s also important for the public to know, since they will be directly affected.
-snip-
CW: Finally Dr. Lee, I want to ask, should we aim toward removing Trump from office before the 2020 election comes about?
BL: I think that is unavoidable. We can only expect the dangerousness to worsen and accelerate. If we had any concern at all about national security, or even the survival of the human species (given the technological powers that are invested in the president), with this level of mental instability, with greater dangers to come because of the impending [special counsel’s] investigation reports, without sufficient containment of the president, I believe removal would be in order.
All of this could be answered more precisely with an evaluation, of course, but I think Trump has shown enough to demonstrate he is in no state to continue his presidency for another two years.
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