CSotD: The Wide World of Whatever
Ann Telnaes prompts a reaction of “Well, yes, but no…” Her work raises once again the question of whether President Trump deliberately lies or genuinely believes the implausible claims he makes.
The author recalls past comparisons between Trump and figures like O.J. Simpson and Jeffrey MacDonald, both of whom denied obvious crimes. They seemed to have convinced themselves of their innocence, creating a comfortable fiction to live with. Perhaps Trump operates in a similar psychological space.
“I’m not in a position to psychoanalyze the president, but while I can’t believe he truly thinks he graduated from Wharton at the top of his class, I can believe he misunderstands terms like ‘asylum’ and has odd views about who pays tariffs.”
The writer notes that it hardly matters whether Trump genuinely believes his own statements. What matters more is the observable evidence of his confusion—such as wandering aimlessly during a trip to Japan—and the media’s silence about his apparent cognitive decline.
“To accuse him of deliberate lies assumes he can tell fact from fiction.”
Author’s Summary
Reflecting on Ann Telnaes’s work, the piece questions whether Trump’s untruths stem from intention or self-deception, spotlighting concerns over his fading awareness and uneven media scrutiny.