Psychologist Warns Donald Trump Could Become More Destructive After Election Setback

A psychologist says Donald Trump could pose a greater danger after the recent election dealt his party a major blow. Dr. John Gartner, a former Johns Hopkins University professor, made the assessment during an appearance on The Daily Beast Podcast, hosted by Joanna Coles. Gartner argued that Trump’s reaction to political defeat could be driven by a need to demonstrate power and dominance. He described the president as a “malignant narcissist” and said he believed the country had entered what he called the “third act” of a tragedy, adding that he thought the danger was greater than before. The psychologist compared Trump’s response to that of an abusive partner who escalates after being challenged. In his view, a setback would not necessarily prompt the president to retreat; instead, he might seek to cause disruption and display strength. Gartner’s comments were his own assessment, not a clinical diagnosis established in the article. He also invoked Adolf Hitler’s final orders during the Battle of Berlin, pointing to the Nero Decree, which called for the destruction of German infrastructure rather than allowing it to fall into Allied hands. Gartner used the comparison to describe what he considers a destructive impulse to leave chaos behind. Gartner said he was unsure that any strategy could restrain Trump. He predicted that the president could try to obstruct Democrats’ plans in Congress, including by vetoing legislation, and suggested that such actions might be motivated by spite rather than a desire to advance policy. The article presents Gartner’s warnings as commentary on Trump’s possible conduct after an electoral defeat. His claims are predictions about the president’s behavior, rather than reports of a specific new action by Trump.