As President Donald Trump navigates growing dissent from his core supporters just over a year into his second term, mental health experts raise alarms about potential escalations from a leader facing intense scrutiny.
Resurfaced Epstein Allegations Intensify Pressure
Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case include a 2016 complaint accusing Trump of raping a 13-year-old girl in 1994. The anonymous plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, filed the lawsuit that year but dropped it shortly before the election. The filing details multiple alleged assaults by Trump and claims Epstein expressed anger over the incident, also implicating him in the abuse.
These descriptions align with the original 2016 claims, which Trump has consistently denied. Alan Garten, attorney for the Trump Organization, described the allegations in 2016 as “a complete fabrication.” The Department of Justice noted in a recent statement that the released materials may contain fabricated images, documents, or videos, as they include all public submissions to the FBI.
MAGA Base Shows Signs of Fracture
Trump’s polarizing style, marked by inflammatory rhetoric and division, once rallied his MAGA followers. However, economic realities—such as soaring prices and unfulfilled promises of prosperity—have fueled widespread frustration. Recent outrage over U.S. citizens killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers has amplified these tensions.
At a rally in Iowa, a traditional stronghold, Trump faced heckling from the crowd as he floated running again in 2028. He dismissed the interrupters as “paid agitators,” but the incident highlights shifting loyalties among former enthusiasts.
Psychological Experts Warn of Narcissistic Rage
Mental health professionals view Trump’s response to challenges through the lens of narcissistic traits. In 2024, over 200 experts signed a public letter citing symptoms of malignant narcissism, including disregard for norms, repeated deception, impulsivity, and lack of remorse. They labeled him an existential threat to democracy.
Mark Vahrmeyer, psychotherapist and spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy, explains the dynamics: “When a narcissistically structured person is challenged in public, the trigger isn’t ‘hurt pride’ in the everyday sense. It’s narcissistic wounding: a puncture in the image they need in order to feel solid inside. That lands as shame and humiliation, and for this personality style, those feelings can feel intolerable, even annihilating.”
He adds that such individuals respond with “narcissistic rage,” seeking to eliminate perceived threats. Dissent from the MAGA base could be seen as betrayal, prompting escalation through aggressive rhetoric or punitive actions, particularly in areas like immigration enforcement.
Vahrmeyer cautions that external constraints—courts, officials, and events—may force adaptations, but these would likely be framed as victories rather than admissions of fault.
Global Risks and Recent Missteps
Trump’s decisions, including the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and threats against Iran, underscore the high stakes of his leadership. A recent speech at the Board of Peace Forum in Davos, Switzerland, drew attention when he confused Iceland with Greenland—a territory he has claimed interest in acquiring.
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, a Trump ally, reportedly expressed shock over the president’s psychological state after a January 17 meeting at Mar-a-Lago. During an informal gathering in Brussels on January 22, Fico described Trump as “dangerous.” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly countered: “This is absolutely total fake news from anonymous European diplomats who are trying to be relevant. The meeting at Mar-a-Lago was positive and productive.”
Dr. Katie Barge, a psychological expert, notes: “From a psychological perspective, when a leader with strong narcissistic traits begins to lose control, admiration, or unquestioned loyalty, it’s often experienced as a profound personal threat rather than a political setback. In moments like this, accountability isn’t processed as feedback; it’s felt as humiliation.”
She predicts escalation, including blame-shifting and extreme positions, to restore dominance, especially destabilizing when challenged by supporters.
Limited Prospects for Reflection
Tina Chummun, trauma specialist and psychotherapist at Care2Counsel Ltd, observes that public challenges typically provoke defensiveness in narcissistic individuals: “Narcissism is underpinned by a fragile sense of self and inner shame that relies heavily on external validation. When that validation is withdrawn, the response is commonly defensive rather than adaptive.”
Common reactions include aggression, blame-shifting, and grandiosity, amplified by power. Chummun emphasizes that pressure rarely fosters humility, instead leading to rigidity and intensified control efforts, potentially resulting in emotionally driven decisions with broad consequences.
