So, in Trump’s narcissistic cycle, there is a predictable sequence of phases that play out whenever he is facing a public humiliation.
1) Double Down Donnie
2) Loco Lawn Sprinkler
3) Sad and Silent
4) Hunting for Scapegoats
5) Riding the Excuse Train
1/ https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1323601209396264961
1) Double Down Donnie
2) Loco Lawn Sprinkler
3) Sad and Silent
4) Hunting for Scapegoats
5) Riding the Excuse Train
1/ https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1323601209396264961
Whenever Trump is facing a public embarrassment he sees coming, he first doubles down on all of the stupid shit that put him in that hole to begin with. He has no other tools.
Then he frantically spins like a lawn sprinkler desperately spraying unhinged nonsense.
2/
Then he frantically spins like a lawn sprinkler desperately spraying unhinged nonsense.
2/
The worse the pending embarrassment, the more unhinged the nutbaggery out of his mouth.
See: the past week.
It has been just a firehose of industrial-grade batshit.
3/
See: the past week.
It has been just a firehose of industrial-grade batshit.
3/
Then, when the embarrassment arrives, he gets quiet and sullen like a chastised little boy and runs off to cocoon.
Listen to the clips from the thread in the first post. Talking about his presidency in a tired, dejected past tense.
No aggression. No real fight left.
4/
Listen to the clips from the thread in the first post. Talking about his presidency in a tired, dejected past tense.
No aggression. No real fight left.
4/
Trump entirely disregulates as the embarrassment train is bearing down. He seems out of control because he is. No control over himself. An overtired toddler x1,000.
Then the train passes the point of avoidance though and Trump shrinks into a sad ball (albeit briefly).
5/
Then the train passes the point of avoidance though and Trump shrinks into a sad ball (albeit briefly).
5/
Trump knows he is losing the election and there is no runway left to try to change that.
Next up should be cocooning.
Not sure how that can work with Trump allegedly hosting hundreds at the White House tonight.
6/
Next up should be cocooning.
Not sure how that can work with Trump allegedly hosting hundreds at the White House tonight.
6/
Smart money would bet that he is going to be largely out of sight - at least once returns are coming in.
That would be my wager. Postures like he is in fine spirits early before polls close. Then runs and hides.
7/
That would be my wager. Postures like he is in fine spirits early before polls close. Then runs and hides.
7/
Next phases (after a loss) would be hunting for scapegoats and finding face-saving excuses for why he either the embarrassing thing didn’t actually happen, wasn’t his fault, or isn’t actually bad after all.
8/
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I’ve said since my first thread on Trump’s narcissism that the face-saving end story would be some bullshit about going off to be the biggest media star in the universe.
Starting a network or running one to take on CNN or some dumb shit like that.
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Starting a network or running one to take on CNN or some dumb shit like that.
9/
It won’t actually happen but he doesn’t need it to happen. He just needs some face-saving way to get out from under near-term embarrassment.
So, let’s see what happens but if/when he loses, he’s going to pivot to face-saving about how he actually won by not winning.
10/
So, let’s see what happens but if/when he loses, he’s going to pivot to face-saving about how he actually won by not winning.
10/
He’ll throw a bunch of face-saving ingredients out there; see how they play; and finesse them into a narrative he’ll stick with.
Life is an endless focus group for narcissists.
11/
Life is an endless focus group for narcissists.
11/
My guess on the elements: “I was great at presidenting. Bad people in the very bad political world. I’m too good for that cesspool. I already have the most huge deals just waiting. I win.”
Tonight though, I’ll betcha a beer he lies low.
12/12
Tonight though, I’ll betcha a beer he lies low.
12/12