Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Politics
Jon Sharman

Donald Trump displays 'so many of the traits of a sociopath,' says MSNBC commentator

Donald Trump displays "so many of the traits of a sociopath", a cable news commentator has claimed.

Donny Deutsch, an advertising executive, avowed Democrat and former talk show host, appeared to cite an online how-to guide in his analysis of the President's mental state on MSNBC.

He claimed that sociopaths "believe their own beliefs and opinions are the absolute authority and disregard others ... they have trouble suppressing emotional responses like anger, impatience or annoyance".

They "are usually extremely charming and charismatic" and often "feel entitled to certain positions, people and things," he added.

He said: "I'm not being glib here, because we're trying to analyse this intelligently, or rationally, or with the left brain, and there is none.

"And then you start to say, coming off of Clapper, coming off of Corker, what is—and I'm not being glib—what is wrong with this man?

"It's interesting, so many of the traits of a sociopath this man is displaying."

Mr Deutsch's notes appeared to have come from WikiHow, a website that compiles how-to guides.

The MSNBC host, Nicolle Wallace, said: "Not one of us is capable of diagnosing him."

Mr Deutsch referenced an interview given by James Clapper, the former Director of National Intelligence, in which he cast doubt on Mr Trump's fitness to serve as President.

Mr Clapper said Mr Trump's speech to a rally in Phoenix on Tuesday was "downright scary".

The President lashed out at "damned dishonest" journalists, and re-read parts of his various statements in the wake of the far-right Charlottesville riot to prove he had been misrepresented.

He also hit out again at Arizona's two Republican senators, Jeff Flake and John McCain, in a sometimes venomous speech that abandoned remarks prepared on teleprompters.

Mr Clapper told CNN: "I've toiled in one capacity or another for every President since and including John F Kennedy through President Obama, and I don't know when I've listened and watched something like this from a President that I found more disturbing."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.