I used to teach fifth grade.
I remember about ten thousand conversation where ten year old children were whispering to their friends that “He likes me, but I don’t know if he LIKES me.”
I remember at least 20 thousand conversations where one child confided in another, “I like her, but I don’t LIKE HER like her.”
They were little kids. They were trying to work out the nuances of enjoying someone’s company while a) not necessarily sharing any interests b) not necessarily agreeing with each other c) not wanting to run off and get married and make babies (how do you do that, anyway?)
When I was a teacher of young and innocent kids, these conversations made me smile. They made me appreciate the innocence of youth.
Now that I am a retired old grandmother, and the “He likes me!” comments are coming from the 73 year old, three times married President of the United States, my reaction is somewhat different.
I’m fighting off simultaneous urges to vomit and to run screaming into the night.
Yesterday I listened to Donald Trump’s comments as he left the G7 summit. I listened carefully to his every word.
And I must say, I have not changed my view that this man demonstrates a very significant language disorder.
He made many incomplete utterances. He left out specific nouns and verbs, leaving the impression that his ideas were drifting and pointless.
I suggest that you watch this video. Watch what happens when Trump strays from the script at about 3:18.
Note the incomplete, rambling thoughts. Note this mess:
“From the standpoint of trade and jobs and being fair to companies, we are really, I think, committed, I think they are really starting to be committed to a much more fair trade situation for the United States because it has been treated very unfairly…. Last year they lost 800, we as a nation, over the years, but, the latest numbers 817 billion dollars on trade and it’s unacceptable and everybody was told that.”
Say, what?
And then there was Trump’s assertion that our trade and international relationships were “a ten”, because the members of the G7 were reasonably polite to him.
He insisted that the relationships are fabulous because none of the leaders of the developed world stood up and called him a doody pants.
No matter what they thought of the big lying buffoon, all of the OTHER leaders of the free world had enough self control to be at least marginally civil to Donald J. Trump.
Unfortunately, that gave our incredibly immature national leader the impression that all of those other powerful people “liked” him. And that was enough for him.
He assumed that because they “liked” him, he could safely call them names, accuse them of theft, criticize his predecessors who had been dealing with them for decades, and then tell them exactly what they had to do.
He thought that being “liked” meant that nobody would get mad at him, no matter what.
I must tell you, as a former teacher of fifth graders with autism, oppositional defiant disorder, cognitive disabilities, language disorders and other learning and behavioral challenges, that this underdeveloped ability to comprehend the nuances of human relationships is a major problem.
Our country, our beloved United States of America, is in the hands of a person whose intellectual and emotional development has not yet reached the level of a ten year old. A person whose mastery of the English language is both immature and obviously disordered.
I have no idea what it is that goes on the mind of Donald J. Trump, but I am very, very sure that whatever it is, it is based on the ideas and beliefs of a selfish child. I am very, very sure that what he thinks is never articulated in a way that makes any sense.
I am very sure that we are in a very dangerous place right now. This country is being led by a pouting, angry child whose emotional, intellectual and linguistic development are all dangerously impaired.
“I don’t like him. And I don’t know what to do.”
Empty Nest, Full Life 
It’s pretty terrifying… Our beautiful 7-year old with a rare genetic syndrome and learning disability is working harder than Trump to learn the nuances of good friendship. Perhaps someone needs to draw him a ‘social story’
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EXACTLY my thought!!! I loved those social stories; they were an amazing gift given to me by the Mom of one of my autistic students. Helped years of kids afterwards. I am not sure that Trumpie has the will, the attention span, or the heart to benefit. And yet, that was my exact thought when I heard him speak. I wish your little one all the best; some of my greatest heroes over the years were the kids who had the same challenges. Now I’m friends with some of them as adolescents or adults! Pulling for you, my dear!
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❤
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I agree – I think the dangerous thing with Trump is there could even be an overlaid narcissistic personality disorder…
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Or even borderline personality…I’ve been reading up quite a lot on both of these!
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I don’t think that Trump always spoke this way, not when he was younger.
I’m thinking either Alzheimer’s (which runs in his family) or vascular dementia (given his obesity, diet, life style, and lack of exercise, a series of small strokes would not be surprising).
Add to that a total lack of discipline and a belief that he’s the “best” at everything so he doesn’t have to watch what he says, and there you have it.
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I have had the very same thoughts; I believe that it is all compounded by his serious narcissism or borderline disorder. Whatever, this is NOT a man who is capable of managing the country, never mind the world. What is going to happen…….????
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I watch with bewilderment every time this man gets up to speak. He is as frightening to me as to my eleven year old child – who I have to explain and put things into context……how do you explain Trump???
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If you look up “narcissistic personality disorder” it describes DT exactly! He’s seriously the poster boy for NPD! It’s crazy that our country has been hijacked by a guy with this problem. I hope you don’t mind if I paste the symptoms below.
https://www.bridgestorecovery.com/narcissistic-personality-disorder/signs-symptoms-narcissistic-personality-disorder/
Psychological, Emotional, and Behavioral Symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Unlike mental health conditions that only manifest periodically or situationally, narcissistic personality disorder is pervasive and all-encompassing. Personality disorders are like a second skin that sufferers must wear wherever they go and whatever they do, and a person with undiagnosed and/or untreated NPD cannot avoid its life-altering impact.
Psychological Symptoms
While narcissism may cover for deeper feelings of inferiority or inadequacy, at a psychological level people with NPD are entirely sincere in their self-devotion and utterly convinced of their own greatness.
As a reflection of these conscious beliefs, the psychological symptoms of NPD include:
Exaggerated feelings of self-importance
A sense of entitlement, disconnected from any actual deeds
Feeling superior to other people
Preoccupation with fantasies of wealth, power, fame, and public praise
Prioritizing competition over cooperation
Cynical attitudes toward those who act unselfishly or express idealistic beliefs
A lack of empathy and understanding of others’ motives
Inability to see their own flaws or admit when they are wrong
A belief that their interests are more important than the interests of other people
A habit of dividing the world into winners and losers
People with untreated NPD do not like to have their beliefs challenged or questioned, and anyone who does so will be viewed with suspicion and hostility.
Emotional Symptoms
Despite their conscious feelings of superiority, people with NPD have many insecurities and are plagued by fears of failure. Their wounded self-esteem becomes visible through their emotional reactions to outside events, which contradict their supposedly unlimited self-confidence.
The emotional symptoms of NPD include:
A need for constant attention and flattery
Frequent feelings of envy and resentment
Impatience and a quick temper
Extreme sensitivity to criticism
Inability to adapt to change without feeling rage or frustration
Unacknowledged feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability
Moodiness, often accompanied by signs of depression
Deep fear of being helpless or powerless
An obsessive desire for revenge against anyone perceived as an enemy
The people who draw the ire of narcissists usually haven’t done anything to intentionally hurt them. But their actions and achievements somehow remind the person with NPD of their limitations, weaknesses, or failures.
Their “crime” is shattering the illusions of the NPD sufferer, causing them emotional pain and provoking the urge to lash out or make harsh judgments.
Behavioral Symptoms
People with narcissistic personality disorder can be charismatic and charming one moment, and angry and vindictive the next. Their behavior makes a strong impression—sometimes positive and sometimes negative—on everyone they know and meet. They tend to be involved in many conflicts, and predictably they blame those conflicts and the ill will and bad actions of the other party.
In their social interactions, people with narcissistic personality disorder will:
Brag and boast (and sometimes lie) about their accomplishments
Go out of their way to avoid associating with anyone they consider beneath them
Dominate conversations by interrupting constantly and refusing to let others choose the topics for discussion
Insult or demean other people as a way to make themselves look better
Flatter those who flatter them, and criticize or denigrate those who criticize them
React with indignation and offense when humorous remarks are directed their way, or if they are the subject of teasing
People with NPD believe they deserve the best of everything, and they will often live beyond their means in their attempt to get it. They are not above taking shortcuts if they can benefit in some way from doing so, but they will be the first to direct their outrage at others who do the same.
NPD sufferers are sometimes accused of being bad people, but they simply lack the capacity to evaluate themselves and their own behavior honestly and objectively. In many instances, they are genuinely surprised to discover their behavior has offended others.
NPD and Co-occurring Disorders
Despite their apparent self-confidence and air of superiority, people with narcissistic personality disorder struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of unworthiness, which often go unrecognized. This puts them at risk for co-occurring mental health disorders and substance abuse, the latter of which is a common coping mechanism for people with psychiatric conditions they’re trying to escape.
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Wow, this is great, Kat, thank you! I know a bit about NPD (married to a psychologist) and have also heard people wondering if Trump has Borderline Personality Disorder. Have you heard of the group “Duty To Warn”? My husband is part of this group; its all mental health professionals who believe that Trump has a serious mental illness. I just don’t know how we are supposed to proceed, watching this horror show going on around us.
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