Trump’s brusque manner in his personal relationships and his contentious, populist style in public and with the media were some of the factors that led to his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. From a functional perspective, what he needed to do was to form a relationship of attractive opposition with the electorate but, instead, he formed a relationship of antagonistic opposition with many of them.
Moreover, his behavior detracted from his numerous accomplishments as President. During his tenure, America became energy independent for the first time in history; he pulled American troops out of a seemingly endless conflict in Afghanistan; he pushed for building a wall at America’s southern border; he settled an endless conflict in the Middle East by establishing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, something which no past president was able to achieve.
Many who were against him saw his theatrics and other surface antics as un-presidential. He was presented by the media as “too untrustworthy and too emotional,” i.e. unstable, and not fit for the presidency. By contrast, Biden was pictured on the political stage in the exact opposite manner, with a seemingly smooth, cool, competent facade. In the debates, he responded to Trump’s contentiousness by appearing unruffled and in control of himself, traits that scored him points in the publics mind. More importantly, Biden was expertly packaged. during the political campaign. He never revealed his political hand to the public, and only appeared in carefully orchestrated interviews, speaking mainly in platitudes.
Contact between people happens on the social surface. What mattered to the public about Trump and Biden were what people saw of the candidates on the social surface, their facade, not about the dynamic that was being played out in the social depths within and between these two socio-political character types. The public’s exclusive focus on the surface was also a symptom of their profound state of cluelessness about the two candidate‘s highly different underlying socio-political character structures which was the key to how they would function in the Oval Office.
If Trump had decorum and behaved with dignity instead of playing endlessly to his loyal base he would have earned more credit with the public as a whole. His opponents were seasoned provocateurs and he let himself be constantly provoked. This gave him the image of a populist figure and a street fighter in the minds of the public, not a politician with integrity and a clear strategy for America. By allowing himself to fall into this image, he became his own worst political enemy.
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Neither Left Nor Right
The Emotional Plague
Charles Konia, M.D. 
Thank you Dr. Konia for seeing and describing the whole picture, not just the perspective of a loyalist. It is a tragedy that the important social gains President Trump accomplished were undermined by his characteristic tweeting away from the essential issues. It seems his ability to be direct and aggressive was both part of what brought him to power and what undermined his remaining there as the president for another term, as you described so clearly.
Even still, Happy Thanksgiving. We still have so much to be thankful for.
Dee Apple. Ph.D.
Happy Thanksgiving for all that we have to be grateful for.
I also want to thank you, Dr. Konia, for this article. When I read it, I was still walking in a dazed state, feeling like I’d been blindsided by the election results. Immediately, my eyes were opened to the facts: President Trump was unable to comport himself in a manner befitting the Office, and he played right into the hands of the “enemy”. With this perspective, I can now cut through all the “noise” surrounding this tragic outcome, and continue to hope for the best.
Thanks, Drs. Konia and Apple. Your thoughts are spot on. Happy Holidays to all.
I also want to thank you, Dr. Konia, for this article. When I read it, I was still walking in a dazed state, feeling like I’d been blindsided by the election results. Immediately, my eyes were opened to the facts: President Trump was unable to comport himself in a manner befitting the Office, and he played right into the hands of the “enemy”. With this perspective, I can now cut through all the “noise” surrounding this tragic outcome, and continue to hope for the best.
You’re welcome, Susan.
Hi Dr. Konia,
Isn’t it premature to perform a post-mortem on the living?
Whether or not it is right to do a post at this time, the points made about the candidates are valid.
Hi Dr. Konia,
Isn’t is premature to perform a post-mortem on the living?
Joe Biden is the alleged winner because of massive, pervasive voter fraud. Wake up, Chuck.
Doesn’t Trump’s failure in the corona pandemic also play a key role in his election defeat?
What was Trump’s failure in the corona pandemic?
His mass events for the election.
His initial denial of the dangerousness of the pandemic.
His hasty promises about a vaccine.
Overall, his bad example as president.
“It ain’t over till the fat lady sings.”
Trump didn’t have the balls to call Joe “Creepy Joe” instead of “Sleepy Joe”. He should have called him out in the debate about all the little girls he fondles and sniffs on camera. You are right Charles Konia, but I would say he could have also had better results by having more bite to go along with his bark.
Is the attractive opposition related to the attraction-illumination pairing?
No. Attractive opposites are paired antithetical variations that attract each other and coexist. An example is male and female variations of any one species. Opposite poles of a magnet is another example. See “Before The Beginning of Time”, by Meyerowitz.
Fraud, conspiracy, treason aginst the Republic!
We live in an unresolved oedipal world.
Charles Konia, your blog is a fresh breath of sanity. Thank you.
You’re welcome.
Given the preponderance of evidence that massive election fraud was committed it’s way too soon to surmise what people’s motivations were in voting for or against either candidate. It’s certainly too soon for a postmortem where Trump is concerned. 6 months from now we may have very different ideas about this time.
We will see what happens.
Interesting thoughts yet I cannot co-sign. It seems to be a post hoc take on what happened. The truth is: Trump was facing a stacked deck by means of a media/big tech alignment that actively hid deleterious information about Joe Biden in combination with positive information about Trump’s policies/accomplishments, as the incumbent.
Most voters had no idea about the Hunter Biden story, or Joe’s cognitive decline. There have been plenty of polls which suggest if the media covered any of that in a non-partisan way, Trump would’ve won. Voters cannot make informed or rational decisions if critical information is actively being concealed from them.
By being contentious and playing into the opposition’s hands, Trump did exactly what they wanted him to do and he did himself in.
From the more narrow but legitimate perspective of a bio-psychiatric clinical diagnosis of President Trump’s character structure and behavior I could easily agree with this post but from the perspective of the anti-authoritarian environment that Trump was operating in, I think it makes more sense to conclude he did the best he was able to with the character structure and set of skills that he possessed.
To criticize him at this time for the same characterlogical strengths and weaknesses that won him the election in 2016 one would have to assume that he had functional thinking advisers he trusted who could guide him through his weak points or that he had the time and desire to do therapy during his 4 years in office. Obviously we can assume both of these possibilities were not the case.
Despite his limited “one-trick pony” communication skills as a public speaker (which is both a strength and a weakness) his actions during his 4 years won him 11 million more votes (an incredible accomplishment in consideration of the toxic environment) during an election that appears to be one of, if not, the most fraudulent elections in U.S. history. And not fraudulent in his favor.
For those who have been able to see most of the testimony from highly credible witnesses to date related to election fraud and statistically improbable data analysis, it is likely that President Trump won every swing state which would give him an impressive victory.
If the lack of time and a general lack of courage to see the truth keeps him from retaining the presidency if indeed the fraud allegations and illegal constitutional actions are true, then I think this will be a case of the “system” failing the health that remains in the general population more than his failure to “contain” his characterogical “weaknesses”.
Spot on Steve, I think you argued well against Trump’s supposed loss, considering the physical fraud and almost totalitarian propaganda.
On his character, I don’t think it is helpful to point out his foibles, as none of his actions impinges on his capacity to be a life-positive leader. Everyone has a character (except a true genital), and in this toxic political climate where the justice department is not indicting seditious politicians and protecting Trump, it is not a major sin to “let out some steam” on Twitter.
Ed, thanks for the feedback.
As for Trump’s character, I would think Dr. Konia’s postings regarding character are always helpful to anyone interested in reading this blog.
His impulsive, narcissistic behavior sometimes does get in the way of his ability to be a “life positive leader”. I accept that part of him considering the choices in the current political landscape.
I think it is important to always keep in mind the distinction between “the ideal of health” and ” living in the armored world ” as it relates to the individual, micro social groups and the greater social realm. You pointed out that distinction in the individual (true genital character and the rest of us). When it comes to the the social realm I think we are still in the preliminary phase of understanding how to incorporate functional thinking principles in an EP infested social arena.
In addition to the fraud, the media, the clueless segment of population, the limp justice department, there is what I consider to be the “elephant in the room”, the pandemic. I believe that if Hillary Clinton had been elected in 2016, Covid 19 would never have erupted at all.
I absolutely agree with Dr. Konia.
In addition to the fraud, the media, the clueless segment of population, the limp justice department, there is what I consider to be the “elephant in the room”, the pandemic. I believe that if Hillary Clinton had been elected in 2016, Covid 19 would never have erupted at all.
Trumps “Trumpy” characteristics are perhaps the characteristics of what Reich would call a “phallic” character? I think your analysis is spot on and valuable but as far as the critics out there in the Democrat masses and the haters of Trump’s personal character I also think no one really has the right to criticize harmless phallic characteristics in another adult, (such as showing off, bluster, bombasticness, bossiness, harmless attempts to bully), unless the person being critical has reached genitality, (or the target is actually being abusive or harmful). The phallic character is closest to health, Reich said, and can be warm and have love in their lives short of orgastic potency. Unless the person offering critique has orgastic potency, they are thus being hypocritical in their critiques of Trump for harmless aspects of his character. Likewise parents must be taught to be gentle and go along with the phallic expressions of children when they are in the phallic developmental phase, without being oppressive or harsh and causing armoring, (eg. harshness to harmlessly bossy small children who are showing off and “throwing their weight around”). Hopefully Trump has learned some of what you say and will be different in 2024.