Why is Trump’s lying considered news? Why do people actually respond to his pronouncements, which are always either ludicrous, illegal, or sheer fabrications?
He has long since reduced the office of the president to irrelevancy. He has no leadership to offer, and no solutions to the multitude of problems facing the country. When asked how to protect Asian Americans from hate crimes he replied, “I don’t know.” Honest about his incompetence, for once.
On average, Trump lies about 40 times a day. It’s second nature to him. He has no curiosity about anything, but as the Chief Executive, people look to him for answers. So, he lies. Coupled with this penchant for untruth is a desperate need for approval and attention. The man craves attention the way a junkie craves a fix. Hence the need for outrageous statements and attacks on perceived enemies. All in the name of getting his name out there. If people pay attention to him, then all is well. If problems go unsolved or a deadline is missed, it’s okay because other people will take care of it. If they don’t, then they need to be reminded about who’s really important.
It must be almost comforting to be so wrapped up in a narcissist’s cocoon that the rest of the world fades to insignificance. The accolades, the flattery, the waves of adulation must wash over Trump like regular tides. They keep him warm and remind him that he truly is Somebody. To a man who binges on television 24/7, it must be a constant battle to make sure that his name is front and center. That explains the constant press conferences where he says absurd things for the sole purpose of garnering coverage. It’s all about making sure that the warm blanket of glorification keeps the threat of insignificance at bay.
If people really want to defeat Trump, then they need to hurt him in his Achilles Heel: abandonment. Don’t pay attention to him. Deny him the publicity he craves. Don’t listen, don’t look, ignore his daily rants and raves, treat him just as he deserves: with silence and banishment. This will drive him crazy!
As a child, Trump was ignored. To combat this, he became a drummer, constantly tooting his own horn because it gave him what he craved: attention. His business model was all based on branding—glorifying the Trump name as a symbol of wealth and power; sheer self-promotion. This is all based on good press coverage, and it’s something we see in him again and again.
To fight an egocentric business is easy. Simply deny him coverage. In the end, the egotist has nothing. This doesn’t mean ignore him. He does, after all, sit at the height of power. He must be watched to insure he doesn’t further endanger us, but we can’t give him the regard he so desperately needs.
Devoid of public acclaim—save perhaps, blame and attacks for his sheer incompetence—Trump would limp home to his tower and cry himself to sleep,wondering why the world was so mean to him.