Trump Derangement Syndrome: Is It Really a Mental Illness?

Trump Derangement Syndrome Sparks Expert Controversy

Minnesota lawmakers have introduced a bill that seeks to define Trump Derangement Syndrome as a mental illness. Supporters argue that extreme emotional reactions to Donald Trump reflect deeper psychological issues. Although the bill is symbolic, it has sparked debate about the link between mental health and political views.

Lawmakers Say Behavior Shows Instability

Five Republican legislators are backing the bill. It describes Trump Derangement Syndrome as a sudden onset of paranoia triggered by Trump’s policies or presence. The bill lists symptoms like angry outbursts, aggression toward his supporters, and hostile language.

Senator Glenn Gruenhagen, one of the bill’s sponsors, says the proposal highlights how political rage can turn violent. He pointed to incidents like road rage and vandalism linked to Trump-related symbols. He believes such reactions go beyond simple disagreement and signals deeper emotional issues.

Experts Disagree On Trump Derangement Syndrome

Dr. Carole Lieberman, a psychiatrist with conservative leanings, supports the concept. She believes Trump Derangement Syndrome mirrors symptoms of mass psychosis. According to her, people lose their ability to think clearly when Trump is mentioned. Some become obsessive, paranoid, or even violent.

Dr. Lieberman argues that this extreme behavior affects society. She warns that emotional instability has real consequences in both personal and professional lives.

Critics Challenge Medical Validity

Other professionals push back. Dr. Holly Ann Schiff, a psychiatrist in Connecticut, rejects the idea that Trump Derangement Syndrome is a clinical condition. She believes people react strongly because of Trump’s public behavior and policies, not due to mental illness.

Dr. Schiff sees these intense feelings as political, not psychological. While she agrees that some responses are extreme, she says they come from frustration. Labeling them as mental illness, she warns, could stigmatize legitimate political opinions.

Term Has Political Origins

The phrase Trump Derangement Syndrome grew popular in 2017. However, it evolved from an earlier term—Bush Derangement Syndrome—coined by Charles Krauthammer in 2003. He used it to describe extreme reactions to President George W. Bush.

Krauthammer later applied the same idea to Trump. He defined the syndrome as the inability to separate policy criticism from imagined pathology. Minnesota Republicans borrowed this definition for their bill to ground it in political history.

Mental Health Still Affected

Even with disagreements over the term, many experts acknowledge rising political stress. Dr. Schiff notes that more patients now report emotional struggles tied to Trump. She says these reactions have grown stronger since the last election.

She adds that new patients often enter therapy overwhelmed by Trump-related anxiety. Unlike earlier years, today’s emotional responses appear more intense and harder to manage.