Yahoo News explains: What is Trump Derangement Syndrome?
It’s not a condition you’ll find in medical textbooks.
Trump Derangement Syndrome is a mock diagnosis used by President Trump’s supporters to describe individuals whose dislike of the man makes them incapable of seeing any good in his policies or decisions.
Urban Dictionary offers this definition: “Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) is a mental condition in which a person has been driven effectively insane due to their dislike of Donald Trump, to the point at which they will abandon all logic and reason.”
The term is even a part of Trump’s lexicon, as he tweeted about it for a third time on July 29. It came in response to a July 20 meeting with the publisher of the New York Times, A.G. Sulzberger, who said he implored the president to reconsider his attacks on journalism.
When the media – driven insane by their Trump Derangement Syndrome – reveals internal deliberations of our government, it truly puts the lives of many, not just journalists, at risk! Very unpatriotic! Freedom of the press also comes with a responsibility to report the news…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2018
…dying newspaper industry. No matter how much they try to distract and cover it up, our country is making great progress under my leadership and I will never stop fighting for the American people! As an example, the failing New York Times…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2018
Use of the term Trump Derangement Syndrome also seemed to pick up popularity in mid-July after Trump drew widespread criticism for siding with Russia over the U.S. intelligence community.
Some people HATE the fact that I got along well with President Putin of Russia. They would rather go to war than see this. It’s called Trump Derangement Syndrome!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2018
The president also offered up a prescription for TDS…
…called “The Case Against Impeaching Trump,” which I would encourage all people with Trump Derangement Syndrome to read!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2018
It’s not the first time a variation of the phrase has been used.
The late conservative opinion writer Charles Krauthammer coined the phrase “Bush Derangement Syndrome” in 2003, defining it as: “The acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidency — nay — the very existence of George W. Bush.”
The term surfaced again during President Obama’s tenure — this time liberal pundits used “Obama Derangement Syndrome” to describe conservatives’ adverse reactions to his policies.
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