The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Threat to American Democracy and All Humankind, Chapter Four

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Chapter Four

‘The Much More Dangerous Case of Donald Trump,” from Covid to Coup

The reason why I stated that the problem of Donald Trump was one of public health and not of individual health, since my introduction to The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President (Lee, 2017b), is because of the influence he would have on his followers from a powerful office.  Whereas I had not directly interviewed or interacted with Trump—incidentally, my sister and multiple personal friends had—I closely interacted with many of his supporters throughout his entire presidency.  They often wrote to me or left messages, at first angry at me for the things I was saying about their chosen leader.  Some overtly threatened my demise, and these I did not respond to, but it was a measure to me of how personally bonded they felt with Trump, unlike with normal politicians.  I answered or called back almost all others who left more than just a single line, and intently kept my communication channels open.  Those who contacted me came from all walks of life but were, despite their initial ire, largely generous and humane.  My experience of teaching law students representing asylum seekers from all regions of the world taught me that, no matter what region one is from—whether it is a remote village in Africa, South America, or China—our common humanity comes first, and it is possible to develop a connection that overcomes almost any cultural or linguistic barrier.  Hence, how much more possible with my fellow Americans?