Many people still don’t seem to understand what Trump is doing, and what he is capable of. I want to offer information about narcissism and malignant narcissism.

Your run-of-the-mill narcissist is in a constant search for self-affirmation due to deep insecurity. This manifests as arrogance, grandiosity, and empty/ruined relationships.

A malignant narcissist is a combination of those qualities AND sadist/antisocial motivations. They don’t just want to feel good about themselves. Their motivations are self-affirmation, power, control, fulfilling their desires, and hurting others for the sheer fun of it.

Though they have no empathy, they instinctively understand psychology. They are astute students of how to manipulate others to get what they want. If you have a good heart, they use guilt. If you seek flattery, they make you feel like the most important person in the world.

In a flash, they pinpoint your motivations so that you hand over the kingdom to them. Then, they attack. They attack for the power and the thrill, and because of their rage. Their rage comes from feelings of victimization and self-pity.

They feel entitled to everything they want, so anything they do not yet have fills them with rage. They always play the victim, and they genuinely believe they are the wronged party no matter how much harm they cause.

A regular narcissist would have approached COVID-19 with the attitude: “I am the only one who can save you. Look at what a great job I’m doing! Trust me, vote for me!”

But as @sarahkendzior has pointed out time and again, that’s not what Trump did. Why? Because he WANTS to sow chaos and destruction. He is not reacting out of impulse like a “toddler” (which many have called him).

A malignant narcissist is always calculating. Their unpredictability is part of their power and they know it. They WANT to unmoor you, because an unhinged person is easier to control (and, it’s just fun).

Trump is not going to give us a coherent strategy before the election. A nation in chaos is less likely to mount an organized strategy against him. Instead, he will send us out into the world too soon, long enough to make his friends some money.

Then, a new wave of deaths will come, and we will be back in our homes, unable to protest, unable to vote. He doesn’t care if he destroys himself in the process. I once worked on a case in which a man broke his own nose to make it look like his wife hit him first.

He will stop at nothing.I’m sorry to send us into that thought, but I think we need to be prepared for the worst, because Trump has shown us that’s who he is.

What can we do? Don’t obsess about him. Get around him. Strategize like he strategizes. Reach out to the allies we do have: governors, public health officials, individuals who are doing what’s right. Support them and urge them to keep fighting.

Register to vote and donate to people like @staceyabrams. Push Congress to pass a universal vote-by-mail bill. STOP COVERING TRUMP’S tweets and comments so much, and give more attention to those who are doing right by the country.

We are not just at war with a virus. We are in a psychological war with our own President. But we are strong, and we are the majority. We have to give this everything we’ve got.