If you’ve spent more than five minutes on social media or tuned into a cable news cycle lately, you’ve definitely heard the term. It’s thrown around like a political hand grenade. But honestly, the trump derangement syndrome definition isn’t something you’ll find in a medical textbook—at least not yet. It’s a phrase that has morphed from a snarky debate jab into a legislative talking point and even a subject of serious (and very heated) psychological debate.
Basically, the term is used to describe a level of hatred or obsession with Donald Trump that supposedly impairs a person’s ability to think straight. If you're "afflicted," the argument goes, you can't even admit when the guy does something objectively normal. But is it a real "thing," or just a clever way to shut down an argument?
Where Did This "Syndrome" Actually Come From?
It wasn't invented in 2016. Not even close.
The DNA of this phrase actually goes back to the early 2000s. The late Charles Krauthammer, a psychiatrist and conservative columnist, coined "Bush Derangement Syndrome" in 2003. He defined it as the "acute onset of paranoia" in otherwise normal people in response to George W. Bush.
When Trump entered the scene, the template was already there. Fast forward to August 2015: Esther Goldberg wrote an op-ed in The American Spectator, applying the "derangement" label to "Ruling Class Republicans" who couldn't stand Trump’s rise.
Eventually, the phrase exploded. It became the go-to retort for Trump's supporters whenever they felt a critic was being hysterical. By the time his first term was in full swing, even critics like Fareed Zakaria were using it to warn liberals not to let their hatred for the man cloud their judgment. Zakaria’s take was pretty simple: if you reflexively hate every single thing a person does, you lose your credibility.
Is It a Real Mental Illness? The 2025-2026 Shift
Here’s where it gets weird. For years, "TDS" was just a meme. A pejorative. A way to call someone "triggered." But as we moved into 2025 and 2026, people started trying to make it "official."
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In March 2025, a group of Minnesota state senators actually introduced a bill to add Trump Derangement Syndrome to the state’s list of recognized mental illnesses. They defined it as a condition of paranoia, hysteria, and intense hostility toward the president.
The backlash was immediate. Critics called it a "waste of taxpayer money" and a dangerous attempt to pathologize political dissent.
The Psychotherapist's Perspective
Then you have guys like Jonathan Alpert, a Manhattan-based psychotherapist. He’s gone on record—most notably on Fox News in late 2025—claiming that "TDS" is a real pathology he sees in his practice. He says about 75% of his patients show symptoms.
According to Alpert, these symptoms look a lot like:
- Hyper-fixation: Spending hours a day checking news just to get angry.
- Sleeplessness: Tossing and turning because of a tweet or a policy announcement.
- Physical Agitation: Heart racing or "gut reactions" whenever his face appears on screen.
- Interpersonal Breakdown: Cutting off family members or long-time friends over political disagreements.
Most clinical psychologists, however, disagree with the label. They argue that what people are feeling is "Headline Stress Disorder" or just extreme political anxiety. They worry that using a partisan name like "Trump Derangement Syndrome" demeans people who are genuinely struggling with their mental health.
The "Reverse TDS" Argument
It’s not just a one-way street. Some commentators have flipped the script. They argue that the real derangement is the blind loyalty shown by some of Trump’s most ardent supporters.
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John Avlon and others have suggested that "TDS" could just as easily describe a "political diagnosis" of people who cannot accept reality—like the results of the 2020 election. In this version of the trump derangement syndrome definition, the "derangement" is the inability to see the man's flaws, rather than the inability to see his successes.
Honestly, it’s become a mirror. Whichever side you’re on, you use the term to describe the "crazy" people on the other side.
The High Cost of Political Polarization
In 2026, the rhetoric has reached a fever pitch. We're seeing more "derangement" labels than ever. Just recently, Governor Gavin Newsom used the term "California Derangement Syndrome" to describe critics who think his state is a "hellhole."
It’s a linguistic virus.
When we start calling our neighbors "deranged" because of who they vote for, we stop talking about policy. We stop talking about the economy or healthcare. Instead, we start talking about "brain rot" and "psychopathology."
According to research from groups like Beyond Conflict, Americans actually overestimate how much the "other side" hates them. We think we’re in a civil war, but often, we’re just stuck in an echo chamber that feeds us the most extreme versions of our opponents.
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How to Tell if You’re Actually Struggling
If you feel like politics is ruining your life, you don't need a legislative bill to tell you something is wrong. Whether you love the guy or hate him, if you're experiencing these things, it’s time to take a step back:
- You can’t enjoy a meal with your family without bringing up the latest scandal.
- You’ve blocked childhood friends on Facebook over a meme.
- Your first thought upon waking up is, "What did he do now?"
- You feel a physical sense of "fight or flight" when you see a red hat or a blue yard sign.
The trump derangement syndrome definition might be a political weapon, but the stress it describes is very real for a lot of people.
Actionable Steps for Political Sanity
You don't have to change your vote, but you might need to change your habits.
- The 20-Minute Rule: Give yourself 20 minutes of news a day. That’s it. Anything more is usually just "outrage porn" designed to keep you clicking.
- Humanize the "Enemy": Talk to someone you disagree with about literally anything else. Fishing. Cooking. The weather. Remember they are a person first.
- Mute the Keywords: If seeing "Trump" or "MAGA" or "Resistance" in your feed makes your blood pressure spike, use the "mute" function on X and Instagram. Your brain needs a break.
- Focus Locally: You have almost zero control over what happens in the Oval Office. You have a lot of control over what happens in your local school board or community garden. Shift your energy there.
The reality? "Trump Derangement Syndrome" is a symptom of a deeply divided country. It's a label used to delegitimize the other side. But at its core, it highlights a very real problem: we’ve lost the ability to disagree without assuming the other person is mentally ill.
If you want to stay informed without losing your mind, the best thing you can do is recognize when you're being "fed" outrage and choose to starve the beast.
Next Steps:
- Audit your news intake. If you're spending more than two hours a day on political commentary, try cutting it in half for one week.
- Read one long-form article from a source you normally disagree with. Don't read it to argue; read it to understand their logic, even if you think the conclusion is wrong.