A Narcissistic Personality Disorder
I’m back online now and reflecting on the events of the past two weeks during which time I didn’t blog because of the migration of “Ethics Sage” and “Workplace Ethics Advice.” So much is happening, in part because President Trump seems to need to be in the news every day. It’s almost like he doesn’t care what the issue is or his opinion, he’ll go on “Truth Social” and blog away. He seems to have a need to be in the public’s mind. He has an inflated sense of self-importance and a need for excessive admiration, the very definitions of narcissism.
Here is a recent post that deals with the Israel-Hamas matter. It’s hard to believe even Trump believes it:
President @realDonaldTrump: “Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change… Like the USA right now, it will be the GOLDEN AGE of Israel and the Golden Age of the Middle East.”
Does he realize that the current clash follows those of 2008–2009, 2012, 2014, and the 2021? In my opinion, the end result of the War, whenever it officially ends, is that Trump’s actions have created a whole new generation of Palestinian’s who hate Jews and will continue the skirmishes. It may take time because of the total devastation of Gaza, but it will come eventually. It’s a matter of history repeating itself.
He seems to be saying the USA is headed into some kind of Golden Age. Has he been reading the newspapers? Does he stay current with events such as the shutdown of the government, firing of government workers deemed unneeded, ill-thought-out tariffs placed on foreign goods, nationalization of the National Guard, and more.
What bothers me the most is the War between Ukraine and Russia. There is no explanation for why Trump has essentially ignored Russian aggression. There is some movement in his position but nothing like his involvement in the Israel-Hamas clash where he has been able to seemingly bring an end to the conflict. Moreover, he seems to say things that are wholly unlikely, such as his statement at the UN that follows.
President Trump shifted his position on whether Ukraine should hold out for all the territory seized by Russia, saying on social media that he thinks Ukraine is in a position to win it all back. It’s a reversal from his long-held position that Kyiv would need to give up some of its territory to Moscow to end the war – such as Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
But now, “after getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation,” Trump said he believes Ukraine – backed by the European Union and NATO – can win back all its territory.
“Why not?” he said in a post after he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, even suggesting that Ukraine could “maybe even go further than that!”
Why doesn’t Trump threaten Putin like he has Zelenskyy, Hamas, India and Pakistan and more? I believe the explanation is Putin has some damaging information, as yet unearthed, about Trump and it could include Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 election. In other words, Putin threatens Trump about what might happen if he goes all out to support Ukraine. I could be wrong. It’s just my opinion and I have no facts to back it up. It’s the only explanation I have for his weakness in relations with Russia and not calling out its horrible actions in Ukraine.
Blog posted by Steven Mintz, Professor Emeritus, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, on October 13, 2025. To learn more about Steve’s activities, please visit his website at: www.stevenmintzethics.com.