The Wide World of Whatever
Ann Telnaes provokes a response of “Well, yes, but no …” I think I’m done wondering whether Trump is a deliberate liar or truly believes the preposterous nonsense he says. I’ve compared him in the past to OJ Simpson and Jeffrey MacDonald, both of whom denied murders that they most assuredly committed.
I believe they were sincere, having traumatised themselves into believing an alternative reality that was more bearable. While I’m not qualified to psychoanalyze the President, I find it hard to believe he really thinks he graduated from Wharton with honors, much less first in his class.
However, I do think he might genuinely believe that when refugees seek “asylum,” it means they had previously been confined to mental hospitals. I am neutral on who he thinks pays tariffs. It doesn’t matter to me if he believes a test for early signs of dementia is an intelligence test, because I understand what the test is for.
I’ve seen the video of him wandering around gormless in Japan, and I’m more concerned — as others have pointed out — that reporters who criticized Biden for being old and confused seem to be giving Trump a pass on his declining mental state.
To accuse him of deliberate lies assumes he can tell fact from fiction.
Author's Summary
The author struggles to determine if the President is intentionally deceitful or sincerely misled, focusing instead on concerns about his mental state and media coverage disparities.