Hear what Donald Trump's niece says keeps him up at night over legal cases

CNN
2 Mar 202407:06

Summary

TLDRIn a revealing discussion, former President Donald Trump's affinity for authoritarian leaders like Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russia's President Vladimir Putin is examined through the lens of his niece, Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist. Mary highlights Trump's lifelong craving for approval, stemming from his authoritarian family upbringing, and his admiration for 'strongmen' as consistent with his character. She underscores how Trump's deep-seated insecurities about success and wealth drive his actions and how current legal challenges and the stress of attempting a political comeback are taking a toll on him, revealing a man more desperate and fearful than ever.

Takeaways

  • 😬 Former President Trump is expected to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known for his illiberal democratic policies, at his Florida club, raising concerns about Trump's affinity for authoritarian leaders.
  • 😕 Mary Trump, the former president's niece and a clinical psychologist, believes Trump's admiration for strongmen like Orbán, Putin, and Kim Jong-un stems from his childhood desire to please his authoritarian father and avoid punishment.
  • 🤨 According to Mary Trump, the former president knows deep down that he is not as successful or wealthy as he portrays himself to be, and fears being exposed as a fraud.
  • 😰 The legal rulings and potential financial consequences, such as the recent $500 million judgement against him, keep Trump up at night and exacerbate his desperation and terror.
  • 🥺 Mary Trump observes that the stress of running for president again and the prospect of losing have taken a toll on Trump, making him appear more desperate, terrified, and lacking in impulse control and coherence.
  • 😳 The former Australian prime minister described Trump as being in awe of Putin, likening him to a 12-year-old boy with a crush on the captain of the football team, highlighting Trump's unhealthy admiration for authoritarian leaders.
  • 🤔 Trump's obsession is not with being genuinely successful, but with being perceived as successful, as his sense of self-worth is deeply tied to this image he projects.
  • 😨 Trump's entire future hinges on his ability to regain the White House, as it represents his only path to avoiding the consequences of his actions and maintaining his carefully crafted persona.
  • 😟 Despite the support of some members of the Supreme Court, Trump cannot fully count on returning to the presidency, adding to his mounting stress and desperation.
  • 😫 Mary Trump emphasizes that Trump has never evolved beyond the mindset of seeking his father's approval and avoiding punishment, which continues to shape his behavior and decision-making.

Q & A

  • What is the nature of Viktor Orban's governance style as mentioned in the transcript?

    -Viktor Orban's governance style is described as creating an illiberal democracy in Hungary.

  • What do Donald Trump and Viktor Orban have in common according to the transcript?

    -Both Donald Trump and Viktor Orban share an affinity for Vladimir Putin and his strong control over Russia.

  • How does the transcript describe Donald Trump's evolution as a person?

    -The transcript suggests Donald Trump has not evolved beyond the kind of person he was in his youth, significantly influenced by an authority-driven household.

  • What does the transcript indicate about Trump's childhood and its impact on his personality?

    -Trump's childhood, under the influence of a sociopathic father, shaped him to seek approval from strong authority figures, which has influenced his comfort and desire to associate with authoritarian leaders.

  • According to the transcript, how does a former Australian Prime Minister describe Trump's attitude towards Putin?

    -The former Australian Prime Minister observed that Trump appears in awe of Putin, likening his behavior to a pre-pubescent child idolizing an older, more powerful figure.

  • What concerns does Mary Trump express about Donald's quest for success?

    -Mary Trump clarifies that Donald's concern is not actual success but the perception of being successful, driven by a deep-seated knowledge of his inadequacies.

  • How does Mary Trump interpret the impact of legal challenges on Donald Trump?

    -Mary Trump suggests that legal challenges, especially those involving financial penalties, deeply affect Trump, highlighting his fear of being exposed as less wealthy and successful than he claims.

  • What changes does Mary Trump perceive in Donald Trump's demeanor and capabilities over time?

    -Mary Trump sees a decline in Trump's impulse control and coherence, attributing these changes to the stress and desperation stemming from his political and personal challenges.

  • What does Mary Trump believe is the primary driver of Donald Trump's current actions?

    -Mary Trump believes that Donald Trump's actions are primarily driven by desperation to return to the White House, influenced by his fear and the stress of potential legal and financial troubles.

  • How does the transcript describe Donald Trump's relationship with his father and its influence on his behavior?

    -The transcript describes Trump's relationship with his father as one where approval and success were paramount, shaping Trump to seek similar approval from authoritarian figures and fearing the consequences of failure.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Trump's Authoritarian Alliances and Mary Trump's Perspective

The paragraph discusses former President Trump's upcoming meeting with Hungary's right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has turned his country into an illiberal democracy. It highlights Trump's admiration for authoritarian leaders like Putin and Kim Jong-un, questioning how this affinity for 'strongmen' will play with voters. Mary Trump, Trump's niece and a clinical psychologist, is brought in to provide insight. She explains that Trump's upbringing in an authority-driven household and his desire to please his sociopathic grandfather shaped his comfort with authoritarianism and need to associate with strongmen. The paragraph also highlights Trump's obsession with being seen as successful and the potential consequences if his wealth and business acumen are revealed as exaggerated.

05:02

🤔 Mary Trump's Observations on Trump's Stress and Desperation

The paragraph focuses on Mary Trump's observations of her uncle, Donald Trump, and how he has changed over time. She notes that the stress of running for office again, having lost previously, and the conflicts he faces would inevitably take a toll on anyone in his position. Mary Trump perceives her uncle as desperate and terrified, as his entire future hinges on his ability to regain the White House. She observes differences in his ability to think straight, express himself coherently, and maintain impulse control during depositions, attributing these changes to the constant stress he is under. The paragraph suggests that Trump's life is a constant source of stress, impacting his mental state and performance.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism refers to a form of government characterized by absolute or near-absolute power held by a single individual or group, with little or no tolerance for opposition or criticism. In the context of the video, it is discussed in relation to Trump's admiration for leaders like Viktor Orban and Vladimir Putin, who are described as 'strongmen' and have been accused of eroding democratic norms in their respective countries. The transcript questions how Trump's affinity for such authoritarian figures will play with voters in the upcoming election.

💡Illiberal democracy

An illiberal democracy is a governing system that retains some elements of democracy, such as elections, but lacks liberal democratic principles like checks and balances, separation of powers, and protection of individual rights and civil liberties. The term is used in the transcript to describe the political situation in Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whom the transcript refers to as having turned his country into 'the definition of an illiberal democracy.'

💡Strongmen

In the context of the video, 'strongmen' is used to refer to authoritarian or semi-authoritarian leaders who wield significant power and control over their respective countries. The transcript specifically mentions Trump's admiration for 'strongmen' like Viktor Orban and Vladimir Putin, who are described as figures that Trump is drawn to or seeks to emulate in their assertive style of leadership and consolidation of power.

💡Clinical psychologist

A clinical psychologist is a professional who has specialized training and expertise in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of psychological disorders and mental health issues. In the transcript, Mary Trump, the niece of former President Trump, is introduced as a clinical psychologist, implying that her perspective and analysis of Trump's behavior and psychology may carry additional weight or insight due to her professional background.

💡Sociopath

A sociopath is a term used to describe individuals who exhibit a persistent pattern of disregard for the rights and well-being of others, often characterized by traits such as a lack of empathy, manipulative behavior, and a tendency towards deceitfulness and impulsivity. In the transcript, Mary Trump describes her grandfather, Fred Trump, as a 'quite straight up sociopath,' suggesting that his behavior and influence may have contributed to shaping Donald Trump's personality and worldview.

💡Impulse control

Impulse control refers to the ability to resist or delay an impulse, drive, or temptation to act, particularly in situations where acting on that impulse may be harmful or counterproductive. In the context of the transcript, Mary Trump suggests that her uncle, Donald Trump, appears to have exhibited a lessened ability to control his impulses, as evidenced by his behavior during depositions and his overall coherence over time.

💡Betrayed

In the context of the transcript, the term 'betrayed' is used in reference to how Donald Trump has been portrayed in New York tabloids since the 1980s as a savvy businessman. Mary Trump suggests that the legal ruling requiring Trump to pay a substantial sum of money could potentially reveal that he is not as successful or wealthy as he has claimed, thereby 'betraying' the image he has cultivated and portrayed to the public.

💡Choreographed

The term 'choreographed' is used in the transcript to describe Trump's announcement of his candidacy for the presidency in 2015, when he descended an escalator with his wife Melania in what is described as a 'choreographed' manner. This implies that the event was carefully planned and staged, suggesting a level of calculation and strategy behind Trump's public appearances and persona.

💡Impulse control

Impulse control refers to the ability to resist or delay an impulse, drive, or temptation to act, particularly in situations where acting on that impulse may be harmful or counterproductive. In the context of the transcript, Mary Trump suggests that her uncle, Donald Trump, appears to have exhibited a lessened ability to control his impulses, as evidenced by his behavior during depositions and his overall coherence over time.

💡Stress

Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. In the transcript, Mary Trump suggests that the massive amounts of stress Trump is under, due to factors such as the ongoing legal battles, the stress of running for office again, and the stress of having lost the previous election, are likely taking a toll on him mentally and emotionally. This stress, according to Mary Trump, may be contributing to Trump's diminished ability to think clearly and express himself coherently.

Highlights

Former President Trump reportedly has an old friend in town next week, Hungary's right wing, prime minister, Viktor Orban, who has turned his country into the definition of an illiberal democracy.

Orban is said to be en route for a private meeting at Trump's Florida club, and they'll have plenty to agree on, like their affinity for President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who Orban has courted publicly and Trump has praised for his, quote, strong control over Russia.

Mary Trump, the former president's niece and a clinical psychologist, says it's not surprising that her uncle showed an affinity for people like Orban, Putin, or Kim Jong Un, as he has never evolved beyond the kind of person he was when he was very young.

She explains that Trump grew up in an authority-driven household, and he became the favorite son by doing what was necessary to stay on his grandfather's good side, who was a sociopath.

Mary Trump says that Trump is very comfortable associating with strongmen like Orban and Putin, as it's extremely important for him to get the benefit of associating with them and be on their good side.

The Australian prime minister described Trump as being in awe of Putin, like a 12-year-old boy meeting the captain of the football team, which Mary Trump finds stunning and matching her analysis of his childhood.

Mary Trump explains that for Trump, it's not about being successful, but being seen as successful, because deep down, he knows he is not what he pretends to be.

She suggests that what keeps Trump up at night is the concern that he doesn't actually have the money he claims to have, which would reveal that he is not the savvy businessman he portrays himself to be.

Mary Trump sees Trump as someone who is quite desperate and terrified, as his entire future hinges on his ability to get back into the White House.

She believes that the constant stress of running again and having lost is impacting Trump's ability to think straight, express himself coherently, and maintain impulse control.

Mary Trump suggests that the differences in Trump's performance during depositions and his lessened ability to be coherent for any length of time can be attributed to the constant stress in his life.

She acknowledges that although she hasn't spoken to Trump since 2017 due to their disagreements, she can still observe the changes in him over time.

The transcript covers Trump's alleged affinity for authoritarian leaders, his niece's psychological analysis of his behavior, and the impact of stress and legal challenges on his mental state.

The discussion revolves around Trump's childhood, his need for validation, his fear of failure, and the potential consequences of his actions and legal battles.

The overall tone of the transcript is critical of Trump's character and psychological state, offering insights into his motivations and vulnerabilities from the perspective of a family member and clinical psychologist.

Transcripts

00:00

Former President Trump reportedly

00:01

has an old friend in town next week.

00:04

He's Hungary's right wing

00:05

prime minister, Viktor Orban,

00:07

who has turned his country

00:09

into the definition

00:10

of an illiberal democracy.

00:12

Orban is said to be en route

00:14

for a private meeting

00:15

at Trump's Florida club,

00:17

and they'll have plenty to agree on.

00:19

Like their affinity for President

00:21

Vladimir Putin of Russia,

00:22

who Orban has courted publicly and Trump

00:25

has praised for his, quote,

00:26

strong control over Russia.

00:29

How will authoritarianism

00:31

and Trump's admiration

00:32

for these so-called strongmen

00:34

play with voters in November?

00:36

Let's bring in the former

00:37

president's niece,

00:38

who also happens

00:39

to be a clinical psychologist.

00:42

Mary Trump, welcome back to the program.

00:44

So let's start by asking you

00:47

that question.

00:48

Have you ever been surprised

00:51

or is it true to type that your uncle

00:54

showed such an affinity

00:56

for people like Orban, O.G.

00:58

or Putin or even,

00:59

you know,

00:59

Kim Jong un of North Korea, who we went,

01:01

you know, miles and miles over to Asia

01:03

to actually meet a couple of times?

01:05

No, actually,

01:06

one of the things that should worry

01:07

everybody about Donald

01:08

is that he has never evolved

01:11

beyond the kind of person

01:12

he was when he was very young.

01:14

And it's not at all surprising

01:16

because he grew up

01:17

in an authority driven household

01:20

and because of the way

01:21

my grandfather, who was a

01:25

quite straight up sociopath,

01:28

was the Donald became the favorite son

01:31

and he knew what he needed to do

01:33

in order

01:33

to stay on my grandfather's good side,

01:36

because he also understood

01:37

what would happen to him if he didn't.

01:40

So he's very comfortable in this milieu

01:44

and it is extremely important to him

01:47

that he get the benefit of associating

01:50

with strongmen like Orban and Putin,

01:54

but also that he be on their good side.

01:58

You know, that's really interesting,

01:59

the way you frame it, the good side,

02:01

the fact that as a boy,

02:02

he wanted to please his father.

02:03

Let me play for you

02:04

something that a contemporary of his

02:07

when he was in office,

02:08

The Australian prime minister

02:10

said recently about him and Putin.

02:13

I mean, I've been with Trump and Putin.

02:16

Trump is in awe of Putin.

02:18

He's when you see Trump with Putin,

02:20

as I have on a few occasions,

02:23

he's like the 12 year old boy

02:27

that goes to high school

02:28

and meets the captain

02:29

of the football team,

02:32

my hero.

02:34

It is really creepy.

02:35

So, you know,

02:36

that was done in that context.

02:37

It was a lot of yak yak.

02:39

But I'm really stunned by

02:41

how what you said

02:42

and I didn't know

02:42

what you were going to say

02:43

about his childhood

02:44

matched exactly

02:45

what a former prime

02:46

minister of Australia witnessed.

02:48

Yeah,

02:48

And I think

02:49

what's important

02:50

to know that

02:51

most people certainly wouldn't

02:53

and it is really no

02:55

laughing matter

02:55

when at that point

02:57

the leader of the free world

02:58

is being described

02:59

as a pre-pubescent child

03:02

with a crush on an older,

03:04

more powerful person

03:06

is what the consequences are.

03:09

It's not simply that Donald knew

03:11

that by fulfilling his father's demands

03:15

to be the quote unquote killer,

03:17

to be the successful one.

03:19

It was understanding

03:20

what would happen to him

03:21

if he fell to do those things

03:23

because he had an object lesson

03:25

in my father,

03:26

who was quite literally destroyed

03:28

by his inability to fill the role.

03:31

My grandfather required of him.

03:34

Is so many layers to this.

03:36

So can I ask you then again,

03:38

this leads from what you've just said.

03:40

You know,

03:40

he absolutely has

03:42

an obsession with success.

03:44

So what do you think it means to him?

03:46

What keeps him up at night,

03:47

for instance, about the latest

03:49

one of the latest legal rulings

03:50

which said that

03:51

he had to pay something

03:53

like half a billion dollars

03:55

in this in this money business case

03:57

in New York.

03:58

Yeah, well, there are a few things.

04:00

And first of all,

04:01

I think it's really important to clarify.

04:03

It's not that he be

04:04

successful, it's

04:05

that he be seen to be successful

04:09

because deep down,

04:10

Donald knows

04:11

that he is nothing

04:12

of what he pretends to be.

04:14

He's nothing like the portrait

04:17

he shows to the world,

04:18

at least to those people

04:20

who are inclined to believe

04:22

the myths he tells about himself. Right.

04:25

So I think what keeps him up at night,

04:28

other than a lot of Diet

04:29

Coke, would be this concern, one

04:33

that he doesn't

04:34

actually have the money,

04:36

which is a distinct possibility.

04:38

You know, we could say that this

04:42

offer to come up with only $100

04:44

million was a ploy to buy more time

04:47

or to see if it would work.

04:49

But he may not indeed have that much cash

04:52

would reveal not just to the world,

04:54

but to himself,

04:56

that he is not

04:57

as rich as he claims to be.

04:59

He is not the savvy businessman

05:01

who's been betrayed

05:02

in New York tabloids since the 1980s.

05:05

And that would be a crushing blow

05:07

not just to his image, but

05:10

to his sense of himself measure.

05:13

I want to ask you,

05:13

because you openly admit

05:15

that you haven't actually spoken to him

05:16

for all these reasons,

05:17

because you disagree with him in this

05:19

since 2017.

05:21

But let's just go back to 2015

05:23

when he came down

05:25

the escalator with Melania in that whole,

05:27

you know,

05:28

choreographed announcement of candidacy.

05:31

When you see that and those pictures

05:33

and you fast forward to those now

05:35

and him back on the campaign trail,

05:37

do you see anything's change?

05:39

Do you see do you see anything different?

05:41

Yeah.

05:42

Listen,

05:42

I think for anybody in his position,

05:44

it would be impossible

05:45

not to be affected by the massive amounts

05:49

of stress he's under the the conflicts,

05:53

just the stress of running again,

05:55

the stress of having lost.

05:57

I you know, it's it's

05:58

going to take its toll.

06:00

I see somebody who's quite desperate

06:03

and who is terrified.

06:05

I think deep down,

06:07

Donald has always been

06:07

a terrified little boy.

06:09

But the truth is he has much,

06:10

much more to be terrified about now.

06:12

His entire future hinges on his ability

06:16

to get back into the White House.

06:18

And despite the fact

06:19

that there are plenty of people

06:20

helping him out, including,

06:22

it would appear,

06:23

some members of the Supreme Court,

06:25

that is not something

06:26

that he can totally count on.

06:28

So he's going it's

06:30

going to impact his ability

06:33

to think straight, to express himself.

06:35

We've seen in the last decade

06:37

or so the difference in how he performs

06:40

during depositions, for example,

06:42

he appears to have much less

06:44

impulse control and he appears to have

06:48

a much lessened ability

06:50

to be coherent for any length of time.

06:53

So, yes,

06:54

I do see differences,

06:56

and I think we can put that down

06:58

to the fact

06:59

that his life is just a constant stress.

07:03

Mary Trump, thank you very much indeed.