Republicans Push to Make 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' a Mental Illness

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Mar 16, 2025 at 12:21 PM EDT | Updated Mar 16, 2025 at 7:42 PM EDT


Five Republican Minnesota state senators are set to introduce a bill tomorrow that would classify "Trump Derangement Syndrome" (TDS), which they define as an "acute onset of paranoia" regarding the presidencies of Donald Trump, as a mental illness, according to state documents. Newsweek has reached out to the state Senate minority and majority leaders for comment via contact form on Sunday morning.

Why It Matters

Throughout his presidential campaigns, Trump and his top communication advisers—including current White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and communications director Steven Cheung—have repeatedly accused many critics of having a "severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome," as Cheung previously told Newsweek. The phrase has also been used by Republican politicians and talk show hosts, among others. The bill seeking to classify TDS as a mental illness raises concerns about the politicization of mental health diagnoses, which could be used to misappropriate care, diminish other mental health concerns, and suppress dissent and political expression.

What To Know

On Monday, the bill is scheduled to be introduced and read before the Minnesota Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Text of the bill has been available online since Thursday. The five co-sponsors, state Senators Glenn Gruenhagen, Justin Eichorn, Nathan Wesenberg, Steve Drazkowski, and Eric Lucero say that TDS should be added to the definition of mental illness and incorporated into the state's legal definition through amended statutes.

The Republican legislators write that symptoms may include "Trump-induced general hysteria, which produces an inability to distinguish between legitimate policy differences and signs of psychic pathology in President Donald J. Trump's behavior."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/minnesota-senate-republicans-trump-derangement-syndrome-mental-illness-2045600

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Looks like Mr. Walz needs to make a pitstop back home to give them a piece of his mind. With a tied state House (after a loss of a (D) and a power-sharing agreement put in place that gave the GOP the Speakership, but restricted, and they will co-chair most committees now that the vacant (D) seat was replaced with a (D) last week), looks like they are off to a roaring start to "good governing"!!!1!!!!11!!!11

[C_U_L8R]

1. Who's deranged?

This absurd bill is all the evidence one needs.

[sop]

2. Next they will introduce a bill making mental illness a deportable offense.

Any immigrant who crticizes Trump has Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) and will be deported for being mentally ill.

[William769]

3. Old News.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220146238

[BumRushDaShow]

5. LBN is not General Discussion

Hope all is well with you!

[William769]

6. LBN has be come a joke.

It is, thanks for asking.

[TheRickles]

4. Not The Onion, apparently. The bill's sponsors should lobby the Minnesota Psychiatric Society for support.

Last edited Tue Mar 18, 2025, 05:39 PM - Edit history (1)

Try to make this an official DSM-5 diagnosis, set up treatment protocols and insurance reimbursement rates. Then, when the MPS laughs at them (and the American Psychiatric Association does so, too), it'd get interesting. Would the R's get some high-pressure back-up from Trump and the DC Repubs to push for these changes, and would these professional organizations then hold their ground with integrity? If they resisted, they'd become good role models for other big organizations and corporations that have already caved under pressure (esp. media).

[Irish_Dem]

7. In Russia if you criticize Putin you are declared insane and sent to prison and tortured.

This is what the GOP wants.

[LymphocyteLover]

9. that is pure evil

[Irish_Dem]

11. Yes we are witnessing a parade of evil every day.

[slightlv]

21. I see this as a way of putting Democrats and others who protest, picket,

or otherwise diss the Great Leader into mental hospitals and concentration "re-education" camps when the mental hospitals are full. This is one of those mile markers we do not want to cross, but other dictatorships have shown him the way.

We HAVE to stop this man. Any way that can be done. I don't even care if its legal anymore. He just has to be stopped. Period. Or we're all going to be immigrants/refugees to other countries... hopefully before he closes the border to outbound travel (and that will come, too). North Korea is a prime example of that, as was the divide between East/West Germany.

Either we find a way to get rid of him and make it stick... or a whole group of preferably contiguous states secedes from trump's amerikkka and we found our own country, based on the ideals and principles of the Constitution which he has so completely shredded at this point.

[Irish_Dem]

23. Yes it is a step in that direction.

Once it is in the official psychiatric diagnostic manual, professionals are allowed to use it.
And it can then be used to punish and held against one's will.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

8. I'm not a lawyer but I have seen "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" ...

Legally labelling those that disagree with them as mentally ill seems to give the repubs lots of ways to have dissenters locked up without a trial.

And proving oneself "Sane" seems to be much more difficult that proving oneself "Not Guilty" - especially if thinking badly of the Old Man is defined as insane.

Has there been other instances of legislatures declaring a behaviour/belief a mental illness? Are they the legal arbiters of disease diagnoses?

This is much scarier than it is funny.

[gab13by13]

10. People better wake up

this isn't the good ole days anymore.

Democrats carried water for Magats to abdicate its authority given to it under the Constitution to control the purse strings.

Who had that one on his Bingo card?

[LymphocyteLover]

13. there were no good choices... shutting down the govt would have led to its own disaster

THE PROBLEM IS TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS and their fascist campaign!

[Bengus81]

27. Unlike the one going on with it open?

Government wouldn't have been closed for 2-3 days max. Those Republican town halls are NOT going their way.

[LymphocyteLover]

12. when in fact it is the GOP that is insane for supporting a truly insane president so fully

Trump is INSANE

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. Trumpanzee cult members are deranged knuckle-draggers. . . . nt

[Simeon Salus]

15. The Wikipedia article on Trump derangement syndrome is actually good.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_derangement_syndrome

It appears the derangement is all on the accusers' side. This is just another media ploy from the knuckledraggers.

[mwb970]

16. Wow. This must be the ultimate projection.

Remember when the entire world suffered from Hitler Derangement Syndrome?

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. Ah, going back to the good old days - of the USSR:

There was systematic political abuse of psychiatry in the Soviet Union,[1] based on the interpretation of political opposition or dissent as a psychiatric problem.[2] It was called "psychopathological mechanisms" of dissent.[3]

During the leadership of General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, psychiatry was used to disable and remove from society political opponents ("dissidents" ) who openly expressed beliefs that contradicted the official dogma.[4][5] The term "philosophical intoxication", for instance, was widely applied to the mental disorders diagnosed when people disagreed with the country's Communist leaders and, by referring to the writings of the Founding Fathers of Marxism–Leninism—Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin—made them the target of criticism.[6]
...
The "anti-Soviet" political behavior of some individuals – being outspoken in their opposition to the authorities, demonstrating for reform, and writing critical books – were defined simultaneously as criminal acts (e.g., a violation of Articles 70 or 190–1), symptoms of mental illness (e.g., "delusion of reformism" ), and susceptible to a ready-made diagnosis (e.g., "sluggish schizophrenia" ).[8] Within the boundaries of the diagnostic category, the symptoms of pessimism, poor social adaptation and conflict with authorities were themselves sufficient for a formal diagnosis of "sluggish schizophrenia".[9]

The psychiatric incarceration of certain individuals was prompted by their attempts to emigrate, to distribute or possess prohibited documents or books, to participate in civil rights protests and demonstrations, and become involved in forbidden religious activities.[10] In accordance with the doctrine of state atheism, the religious beliefs of prisoners, including those of well-educated former atheists who had become adherents of a religious faith, was considered to be a form of mental illness that required treatment.[11][12] The KGB routinely sent dissenters to psychiatrists for diagnosis, in order to discredit dissidence as the product of unhealthy minds and to avoid the embarrassment caused by public trials.[13] Highly classified government documents that became available after the dissolution of the Soviet Union confirm that the authorities consciously used psychiatry as a tool to suppress dissent.[14]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_abuse_of_psychiatry_in_the_Soviet_Union

[bmichaelh]

18. DSM5

Trump Derangement Syndrome is not listed in DSM5.
So it is meaningless.
I seriously doubt it would be included in an upcoming edition.

But is listed (wonder who this could be):

Narcissistic Personality Disorder 301.81 (F60.81)
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
3. Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high status people (or institutions).
4. Requires excessive admiration.
5. Has a sense of entitlement (i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations).
6. Is interpersonally exploitative (i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends).
7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.

American Psychiatric Association. Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria : from DSM-5 by American Psychiatric Association (p. 328).

[travelingthrulife]

19. Such evil people MAGAs are!

[twodogsbarking]

20. Shouldn't educated professionals involved in the study of mental health be making such decisions?

[slightlv]

22. Surely you jest... (gryn)

[ck4829]

25. From the same party that thinks ectopic pregnancies can be reversed!

Now get ready to hear their thoughts on... MENTAL HEALTH

[ck4829]

24. Who is Justin Eichorn?

The bill — authored by Minnesota Sens. Eric Lucero, Steve Drazkowski, Nathan Wesenberg, Justin Eichorn and Glenn Gruenhagen, and available to read in full below — called for "Trump Derangement Syndrome" to be added to the list of definitions related to mental health care in Minnesota.

Oh no, It's not the same Justin Eichorn arrested for soliciting a minor, is it?

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/03/18/state-senator-eichorn-arrested-suspicion-of-soliciting-a-minor

[mn9driver]

31. Yup, that's him. He just got busted for soliciting a minor.

He will be disappearing shortly.

[3catwoman3]

26. Trump Blind Worship Syndrome sure as hell...

...ought to be an official diagnosis.

[Cha]

28. FUCK You.. You Deranged Fucking Putin Puppets. I GD

HATE Mump... whatcha gonna do about it.

[ck4829]

29. Well you better watch out, or else one of them is gonna solicit a minor for sex!

No really, that's what he did.

https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20152161

[Cha]

30. I saw... Fucking Mumps.

[Avalon Sparks]

32. Gaslighting 101

It doubles the assholery of the gaslighter when they do something shitty to you and then gas light YOU about it.

It’s infuriating.

[RazorbackExpat]

33. The inmates are running the asylum

The Trump cult is truly bizarre