Does Trump really believe the lies he's saying, or is is just performance art

[procon]

and he will do anything for applause.

[Docreed2003]

1. I hope it's performance art...

Only because I secretly hope for the moment he rips off the mask to reveal Andy Kauffman!! Sadly, I think it's that he'll do anything for applause.

[pirateshipdude]

2. I have known two people like this. They lie. We would be embarrassed,

or shamed, or feel stupid. Our intent is not to be caught. So, when we are caught we fail. That is how we are looking at Trump. Like he cares. Like his intent is not to be caught.

These liar do not care if they are caught. That is not what it is about for them. It is the total lack of something, that they walk thru life saying whatever. The two people I know were so pathetic in self loathing. I have to figure that is part of the equation.

[gratuitous]

3. What's the difference?

I submit that in the final analysis there is no difference, and President Trump should be held to answer for every last syllable that falls out of his mouth.

[spanone]

4. what we see it what we get....he's shit personified.

[Kaleva]

5. I think he really believes everything he says to be true.

He'd be the world's greatest actor if he knew all that he said was lies.

[greymattermom]

6. He doesn't know the difference between reality

and reality tv.

[hamsterjill]

7. No, it's not about whether HE believes it or not.

It's the fact that he believes the rest of us believe HIM.

He sees himself as smarter, tougher, etc. and in his mind, the little people hang on his every word and soak up that every word as if it were gospel.

He uses tweets like the ones this morning to bring the little people back in line - in his mind.

Sick bastard, obviously.

[nocalflea]

8. Trump lies for many different reasons.

To frame his lies as " performance art" is to insinuate that he is harmless. He is vicious, manipulative, and dangerous.

[BigmanPigman]

9. I asked this to myself same thing when I heard a Repub senator extolling the virtues of the bill.

This AM on CNN he was saying how kind and generous the deadly bill is and I actually laughed out loud. Then I thought, "Is he a great actor or a serious sociopath?". I can't tell the difference and they ALL do it so well all the time. Unbelievable.

[procon]

10. I should add another possibility; Trump is not a smart man and his constant lies

and the idiotic word salad bullshit that have become his hallmark, are just a way for him to compensate for his vast ignorance. In that, he seems very like Palin, just parroting snippets of things they see on TV or on someone's blog with no understanding, or concern, that there will be huge negative consequences beyond the cheap thrill of a brief bit of applause.

[unblock]

11. he sees speech as an opportunity for manipulation. truth is irrelevant.

he'll say whatever he feels will work for him in the moment.

if it's the truth, fine. if it has some vague tie-in to the truth, fine. if it's a complete fabrication, fine. he doesn't care because that's completely beside the point.

he cares about getting his hits in, defending his pathetic ego, attacking anyone he deems a threat, and trying to sell whatever and however so he can get a "win".


keep in mind that this is a man who has built an entire business model around lying and breaking promises and was rewarded with the presidency for peddling the ridiculous lie that our president, a documented natural-born citizen, somehow was secretly born in kenya.


up until january 20, 2017, his reckless disregard for the truth has worked very well for him.

hopefully he finally invited too much of a spotlight....

[VOX]

12. There is too much chaos for calculation to be involved.

I know, you see this horrifying, embarrassing, daily shitshow and your initial reaction is that no one person could actually be that rude, crude and obnoxious in public life and get away with it. Can he even have one genuine friend in real life? Who, in their right mind, would want to hang out with this obsessed, preening, strutting asshole, and listen to his non-stop, around-the-clock whining?

The guy is clearly disturbed (the non-stop lying, the name-calling, the fixations, etc.) and seems bent on self-destruction. He's either the dumbest joker to "accidentally" become president, or he's the most inept. It's clear now that he's suffering overlapping psychiatric disorders, and/or some cognitive disruption (dementia onset, etc.). Pretty sure his staff has to do things in some very specific way or he rages at them. The entire administration is in utter chaos -- infighting, leaks everywhere, tantrums, petty crap. Look at all the right-wing big-wigs who've recently turned down presidential appointments, because who would want to work for someone who's going to be psychotically displeased and at odds with whatever you do? Only other deeply disturbed individuals would be drawn to that flame.

It's not performance art, but it is insanely theatrical, even if Trump is losing it. His recent blather about the "most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you’ve ever seen" spoke volumes about his emotional incapacities. He really must go, and soon.