Korean Media: Trump's Narcissism
President Donald Trump's words and actions have once again sparked controversy both within and outside the United States. Recently, he criticized the Pope and posted an AI-generated image online that evoked associations with him being Jesus—before quickly deleting it. He has also previously shared images depicting himself as Superman, the Pope, a king, and a video game protagonist. In response, *The New York Times* published a report titled "Is Trump Pretending to Be Crazy—or Is He Really Crazy?"
Some mental health professionals believe Trump exhibits typical behaviors consistent with Cluster B personality disorders, which include antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder. Antisocial personality disorder—commonly referred to as sociopathy—is characterized by an inability to empathize with others. Borderline personality disorder is marked by impulsive behavior and intense emotional reactions; severe cases may require psychological or pharmacological treatment.
¬ South Korea’s leading mental health experts state that Trump clearly displays symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder. According to diagnostic criteria, five or more out of nine standard traits must be present for a formal diagnosis. Trump appears to meet nearly all of them. Key features of narcissistic personality disorder include exaggerating one’s own importance, an excessive need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. The AI-generated image portraying Trump as Jesus vividly illustrates his inflated sense of self-importance. An extreme craving for praise can manifest as sudden outbursts of anger—exemplified by his abrupt imposition of hundreds of percent tariffs on China. In 2025, Trump mocked a well-known Hollywood director couple after they lost their son, and similar instances of inconsiderate behavior are too numerous to count.
¬ During Trump’s first term, concerns about his mental health already stirred significant debate. During the 2024 presidential election, over 200 U.S. mental health experts issued a warning: “Trump suffers from a severe, incurable personality disorder—‘malignant narcissism.’ He is deceptive, destructive, delusional, and extremely dangerous.” While psychiatric professionals generally adhere to the “Goldwater Rule,” which prohibits making clinical judgments about individuals without direct evaluation, they felt compelled to sound the alarm regarding Trump’s danger.
¬ Another South Korean mental health professor stated: “Although Trump clearly shows tendencies toward narcissistic personality disorder, it’s difficult to say his functioning—as either a president or an individual—is impaired.” He added, “Many of his statements and actions are indeed condemnable, but whether this stems from a personality disorder or is purely strategic political calculation remains unknown.” There is currently no reported evidence that Trump is receiving treatment for any mental illness. For the foreseeable future, the world will likely have to endure ‘this Trump’.
Source: Chosun Ilbo
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862596432048267/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author