A piece from Swedish psychologist, Wirsén Psykologi. Although SRS has asked that we don’t post long pieces from other sources, I’m very much aware that we have members here who don’t want to interact with FB, so I’m posting it in full. I hope this is OK, I haven’t linked to it because the original is in Dutch and readers must be logged in to FB for it to translate to English.

Putin- and Trump-apologists would do well to read carefully and think a bit…

”Today it became painfully clear how narcissistic display of power and psychopathology look like, when Trump openly humiliated Zelensky in the Oval Office. In the eyes of the accredited world press, he called Zelensky “disrespectful,” questioning his loyalty and insinuating that he did not deserve US support. As if that wasn't enough, he warned that Zelensky could cause a third world war - a classic psychopathological feature in which threats are used as a control tool.

This wasn’t just a display of poor diplomatic behavior – it was a demonstration of power, characterized by narcissism and psychopathy.

?? Grand self-esteem and need for submission
– Trump expected Zelensky to show gratitude and admiration. When that didn't happen, he punished him publicly. People with narcissistic personality disorder cannot tolerate their self-image challenged and use humiliation as a defense mechanism.

?? Manipulation and threats
– Blaming someone for a potential disaster is a classic psychopathic tactic. By saying that Zelensky is “playing with the Third World War,” he blames him, while positioning himself as the only one who can prevent the catastrophe.

?? Impulsive and emotionally driven power exercise
– When Trump felt challenged by Zelensky, he abruptly ended the meeting. A stable and strategic leader had addressed the situation diplomatically, but a person with psychopathic traits reacts instinctively from his own sense of loss of control.

But why did he do this in front of the press? This is exactly why narcissists and psychopaths love to display their power in public. By humiliating Zelensky in front of the world, he is sending a signal – not only to him, but to all leaders and nations: “I am the one who decides, and whoever does not obey will be destroyed.” ”

What we saw today was not just a president behaving inappropriate. It was a school example of how narcissistic and psychopathic leaders use humiliation, threats, and manipulation to assert their power. And just like in destructive relationships, it's never about building, it's about control.

And what happened to the agreement on minerals? What does it take to drive a Tesla? Narcissists, dictators, and psychopaths idealize each other and work together in unholy alliances.

Trump can no longer claim to be leader of the free world. His actions today do not place him among democratic statesmen but among the dictators of history. A true leader builds alliances based on respect and diplomacy – a dictator rules with threats, fear and humiliation. When the fate of the world is at stake, we must not close our eyes to this difference.

We did not see a president today, but a despot in real-time.”