Part VII: Behind The Curtain
D. S. Mitchell
At the end of Part VI it was January 11th and Donald Trump was holding his first press conference since his Electoral College win. Trump stood to one side of the stage, flanked by Donald Jr 39, Ivanka 35, and Eric 33, listening to his tax attorney, Sheri Dillon explain to the audience of reporters and staff, the changes that were being made to the Trump Organization.
The stage with a center podium was decorated with solemn dark blue drapes and a row of American flags with long gold tassels giving the event a sober tone. On a black shrouded table, to the left of where Dillon stood at the podium, were stacks of manila folders. The stacks were impressively high. Pointing to the stacks of folders, Dillon claimed they were filled with 1000’s of documents proving that Trump was re-arranging his empire to satisfy the growing chorus of critics.
Dillon claimed the Trump “business empire” was “massive”. She emphasized massive several times. A couple of times Dillon tried to draw a correlation between Trump and former Vice President, Nelson Rockefeller as she talked about the changes being made at the Trump Organization. Evidently, she did not know that Rockefeller had released his tax returns and later offered to place his sizeable assets in a blind trust. Neither of which Trump has offered to do.
“The plan” was, according to Dillon, to put the Trump Organization into a trust to be managed by his sons and a long time executive. She emphasized that there would be no more foreign deals, an ethics advisor would be chosen and lastly, Donald Trump would have no involvement in the business. It quickly became clear that Trump was not going to sell his business or put those assets in a blind trust, or release his tax returns.
When the tax return question was brought up by a reporter, Trump responded, “You know the only one that cares about my tax returns are the reporters.”
Trump’s rejection of releasing his tax returns comes in direct opposition to recent polls showing 3/4 of Americans believe the president should release his tax returns.
Trump behaved as if his gesture was somehow noble, and was not really even necessary, “I have a no-conflict situation because I’m president. I could actually run my business and run the government at the same time.”
Within hours ethics watchdogs, advisors, and even former president George W. Bush came out guns blazing slamming Trump’s conflict of interest plan as useless, or as Walter Shaub put it, “meaningless”.
Truthfully, Trump is one of the wealthiest presidents ever elected. Trump is also the most conflicted and indebted. Furthermore, Trump is the first president to actively resist separating himself from his business interests and its obvious potential for corruption, foreign intrigue and self-enrichment. Considering his narrow electoral college win, and the calls to divest, Trump’s choice of action is confounding.
When pressed Trump tells questioners that rather than look to his taxes people seeking financial information about him should be looking at the financial disclosure forms which are required by the Office of Government Ethics. Trump continues, “People have learned a lot about by company, and now they realize my company is much bigger, much more powerful, than they ever thought.”
In May of 2016 a financial disclosure showed 564 companies operating under the umbrella of the Trump Organization. Many of the “companies” are LLC’s and are simply legal envelopes for a bank account or for agreements to license the Trump name. These multiple entities also include family trusts set up by Trump’s father, Fred Trump and these are all private, and the disclosure forms do not show their value or their intent and purpose.
The most that can be deduced from the disclosure information is that the Trump Organization makes most of its money from his hotels, and golf courses. Trump Organization also earns income from media, restaurant and entertainment sources, including royalties from “The Apprentice” where he continues as executive producer, his ghost written books and from a Virginia winery. Additionally, there is income from printing his name on everything from steaks to mattresses.
Since the Inauguration, papers have been filed in New York, Florida and Delaware in which Donald J. Trump resigned his executive positions, transferring the management over to Donald Jr. and Eric. These actions have not calmed the controversy. So the wishy-washy sons are to run the company? Really? I don’t think so, and neither does anyone else. It’s all theatrics. Trump will continue as before, involved in every major decision related to the Trump Organization.
For Trump his reputation as a “billionaire” is imperative to his self-worth. But what is he really worth? When Trump first announced he was running for president he estimated his wealth at $8 billion. In less than a month his campaign revised his estimated net worth to be over $10 billion. Forbes estimated it at $3.7 billion while Bloomberg came in at a mere $3 billion. So, without his tax returns we are left to speculation.
Over the last couple of weeks Calamity Politics has taken you backstage into Trump’s personal and financial life. We have talked about Trump and his relationship to some pretty unsavory characters, Russia, dirty real estate deals, even possible money laundering, and his rise to the presidency. We have not, however, talked about Donald Trump’s mental health. And, I think it is time to enter that dark, sick space.
After two days of watching Trump Turds fly this way and that from his personal Twitter account, I believe that someone; his physician, a family member, the Senate Majority Leader, The Speaker of The House, SOMEBODY needs to step in and get this man a psychiatric evaluation and possibly remove him from office as unfit.
I believe Trump’s deteriorating mental condition has been obvious since the inauguration. Trump’s behavior over the past 9 plus months reveals a man who is in uncertain control of his mental faculties.
It has been pretty much agreed upon that Trump suffers from a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The chaos and confusion of the move to Washington, the incredible responsibility of the Office of the Presidency, the separation from the familiar, his isolation, and his growing unpopularity are challenging his grasp on reality. I believe he is telling us through his aberrant behavior that he is losing contact with reality. It seems to have become more and more difficult for him, to separate delusion from reality.
True NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) is a somewhat rare presentation, with about 200,000 cases identified each year in the United States. The disorder is a condition in which a person has an inflated sense of self-importance. Treatment can help some people, but the disorder cannot be cured.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is most often found in men. The cause of the condition is unknown but is believed to involve both genetic and environmental factors. Primary symptoms exclude excessive need for admiration, disregard for other people’s feelings, or needs. An extreme sensitivity to criticism, often resulting in angry confrontations.
A person suffering from NPD will display traits that cause them to behave in socially unacceptable ways, limiting their ability to function successfully in personal relationships, work, or school. They are often bullies. They are usually loud, boastful, conceited, expect special treatment and tend to belittle, or denigrate people they see as inferior, such as people of lower economical means, or people of color. When not extended preferential treatment or deference, the NPD will often become angry and erupt in rages, belittling those he blames for the slight. If presented with criticism or failure, they will typically blame others, so as to look superior.
Mental health care professionals typically use The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. DSM-5. The Diagnostic Manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association to diagnose mental conditions. The criteria of NPD is as follows: 1) Exaggerated sense of self-importance 2) Expecting recognition of superiority without achievement that warrant such accolades 3) Boast of untrue achievements or talent 4) Preoccupied with fantasies of power and success 5) Believing in their superiority will only associate with people they consider to also be superior 6) Require constant praise and adulation 7) Exhibit a sense of entitlement 8) Expect special favors and unquestioning compliance with their expectations 9) Take advantage of others to get their goals 10) Inability to empathize with others 11) Envious of others and believes others are envious of him 12) Arrogant behavior.
Please do not mistake these behaviors for self-confidence. NPD crosses the line of healthy confidence into a place where the person perceives themselves to be more important and valuable than other people. Frank Bruni, in a New York Times Opinion piece framed it this way,”Trump gave them (his cabinet members) a chance they would get no where else. In return he demands a gratitude that is unhealthy, a deference that’s unseemly.”
Mr. Bruni summed up in two sentences the demands that a narcissistic personality disordered person will expect. We have watched as Trump has diminished and humiliated his underlings. Trump is only “as big as his ability to make his underlings look small,” Bruni states. Examples of this phenomenon are Sessions, Tillerson, Spicer and Priebus. It has been painful to watch, but this is what a narcissist does.
The Trump craziness has been on full display for the world to see for the last 9 months but the intensity and fury has increased noticeably over the last 4 to 6 weeks. His behavior is becoming increasingly dangerous, in my opinion. This is an appeal for someone in power to investigate the president’s capacity to head our government.
I think we have entered unchartered waters with this president. I know I have heard that phrase before, but I am very serious. Our existence as a country could be in the hands of a madman and it is imperative that men or women of stature and patriotism intervene, while they are still able.
Chaos is Trump’s ally. He keeps everyone off-balance. Making us unsure of what the next dramatic tweet will bring. The Congress needs to stop holding its breath waiting for the next bombshell, but needs to move on what Trump has already done. There are at least a dozen reasons to start Impeachment proceedings against this man. All we need are a few good men and women of courage to take on Trump.
Calamity Politics is an on-line progressive political news magazine that comments, analyzes and offers opinions on the headline news of the day. Feel free to comment on what you read on this site. I appreciate comments. Although I do ask that you keep your comments decent and printable. If you curse and act like a fool I will not print your opinion. However, even if we are worlds apart, if you present a good argument I will be happy to present your dissenting opinion.
Dar
