Truth vs. Trump

How Disinformation Becomes Control

The Owl Cast 0001: A New Way to Talk About Politics

When I assess Donald Trump’s actions based on official White House communications, his responses in interviews, his treatment of journalists, and the broader impact of his decisions, I find it staggering that so many people still support him. And yet, I understand why. A significant portion of Americans remain uninformed, relying not on credible news sources but on social media—an ecosystem rife with manipulation, both foreign and domestic. The ability of external forces to shape public perception with minimal scrutiny is one of the greatest vulnerabilities of our time.

This issue hits close to home for me. My own brother, once someone I could have rational discussions with, has fallen deep into this ideology. Fear-mongered news and social media have convinced him that he needs to move from New Mexico to Texas for his safety—despite no tangible threat to justify such a decision. It’s painful to watch, knowing that he is acting out of fear created by mistaken information—information that may have started as an error but has since been weaponized to deceive and manipulate. When someone you love gets caught in the trap of disinformation, it forces you to see just how pervasive and damaging it truly is.

History has shown how propaganda can be weaponized to influence entire nations, such as Nazi efforts to keep the U.S. out of World War II. That strategy was effective—until Pearl Harbor forced a reckoning. The lesson is clear: ignoring credible journalism and factual reporting allows mistaken information to evolve into something far more dangerous—deliberate disinformation designed to mislead for political or ideological gain.

Donald Trump is not merely a political figure—he is a psychological phenomenon. Experts like Dr. Bandy X. Lee, Dr. John Gartner, and Dr. Dan McAdams have spent years analyzing his behavior, his rhetoric, and the ways in which his personality fuels a movement built on manipulation and fear.

Dr. McAdams, a professor of psychology at Northwestern University, argues that Trump is more than just an individual—he is a “performer of dominance.” His leadership isn’t based on governance but on a myth he has crafted: the strongman who alone can fix everything, the outsider fighting against corrupt elites. His appeal, according to McAdams, stems from his ability to create a narrative where his followers see themselves in him—an everyman elevated to power through sheer force of will. But the reality, as McAdams highlights, is that this narrative is built on deception and self-aggrandizement.

Dr. John Gartner, a former Johns Hopkins psychologist, has warned that Trump’s pathological lying is not a mere quirk of personality—it’s a core psychological strategy. He has described Trump’s behavior as that of a malignant narcissist, a condition characterized by grandiosity, lack of empathy, and a relentless need for admiration. Gartner, along with thousands of mental health professionals, issued public warnings that Trump’s disconnection from reality and his willingness to manipulate his base make him not just unfit for office but dangerous to democracy itself.

Dr. Bandy X. Lee has taken this analysis a step further. She emphasizes that Trump’s rhetoric doesn’t just misinform—it weaponizes mistaken information and turns it into disinformation, conditioning his followers to distrust reality itself. This is how my own brother—someone I once had rational conversations with—has come to believe in threats that do not exist. Fear, when reinforced repeatedly, becomes an identity. And once identity is at stake, reason no longer holds power.

This is why conversations with Trump supporters often feel futile. They are not defending Trump on the basis of logic or evidence—they are defending themselves. Dr. Lee argues that Trump exploits this psychological vulnerability, constantly shifting the goalposts of truth so that his followers remain dependent on him as their only source of reality.

Mistaken information often begins as an honest error—a misinterpretation of data, an inaccurate report, or an error in communication. However, when falsehoods are deliberately amplified, repurposed, and strategically deployed to mislead, they evolve into disinformation. Trump is the embodiment of this process, both as its creator and its product. His worldview is shaped by personal grievances rather than objective knowledge, and his actions reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of governance, policy, and global affairs. Yet beyond his ignorance lies something more insidious—his willingness to deliberately mislead for personal gain. His rhetoric is not just reckless; it is calculated to mobilize, incite, and manipulate. He rarely needs to issue direct orders—his mere suggestions are enough to provoke action from his most devoted followers. This is the hallmark of a demagogue.

To better understand this dynamic, the graphic below visually maps Trump’s level of knowledge—or intentional deception—across key issues. This assessment highlights where he is simply misinformed, where he has a partial grasp of reality, and where he knowingly distorts facts to manipulate public perception. By analyzing his statements and policies through this structured evaluation, we can see the broader pattern of disinformation at play.

Understanding Trump through the lens of psychology is not just about evaluating his words—it’s about diagnosing the broader effect he has on society. The patterns shown in the graphic are not random; they reflect a deeper psychological strategy. Experts don’t need to speak to Trump directly to assess him—his rhetoric, decisions, and manipulation tactics are all on full display. By recognizing these patterns for what they are, we can begin to dismantle the structures of disinformation that keep so many people trapped in falsehoods.

Trump’s greatest weapon is disinformation—but our greatest weapon is awareness. This is not about proving Trump wrong or changing the minds of those who are fully entrenched. It is about reaching those who are beginning to feel the cognitive dissonance, those who sense that something isn’t quite right but don’t yet have the words to articulate it. It is about giving people the tools to recognize manipulation for what it is before they, too, become victims of it.

If you’ve made it this far, it means you care. That alone is meaningful. The only way forward is through awareness, self-reflection, and an engagement with reality. The echo chambers designed to keep people locked in place lose their power when we actively seek information, question our assumptions, and remain open to nuance.

The solution to disinformation isn’t censorship or outrage—it’s curiosity, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to truth. The challenge before us is daunting, but the fact that you’re willing to think critically is the first and most important step forward.

Everything I have written here is based on my own assessment of Trump’s actions, words, and the data I have gathered from a wide range of verifiable sources. This is not a regurgitation of media narratives, social media trends, or the opinions of journalists, influencers, or political commentators. It is the result of careful analysis, observation, and critical thinking. My goal is not to persuade with rhetoric but to examine the reality of his impact with as much objectivity as possible.

Thanks for reading.

Don’t forget, subscribing is free!

“Don’t let apathy win. Don’t give up. Fight the good fight, America.”

Taylor Irby - February 19th, 2025
Independent Analyst: Data-Driven, Reality-Focused.