Five Minnesota Senate Republicans are pushing to recognize “Trump derangement syndrome” (TDS) as an official mental illness under state statute. The bill, drafted by Eric Lucero, Steve Drazkowski, Nathan Wesenberg, Justin D. Eichorn, and Glenn H. Gruenhagen, would add a definition for TDS to existing mental health care statutes in Minnesota. The syndrome is described as “the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal persons” in response to President Donald Trump’s policies. Symptoms of TDS include “Trump-induced general hysteria,” in which policy disagreements are perceived as signs of “psychic pathology” in Trump’s behavior, resulting in verbal hostility towards him and violence against his supporters.
Critics of Trump see TDS as a term used by his supporters to discredit his liberal detractors as overly critical and histrionic. The term has its origins in “Bush derangement syndrome,” coined in reference to liberals’ reactions to President George W. Bush in 2003. TDS gained popularity during Trump’s first term, with conservative figures such as Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro using it to criticize perceived biases in the media and entertainment industry.
The Minnesota bill has sparked backlash from state Democrats, who view it as a partisan attempt to pathologize legitimate criticism of Trump. The proposal has reignited debates over the use of TDS as a political tool and its implications for mental health discourse. If passed, the bill would add another dimension to the ongoing debate surrounding the impact of Trump’s presidency on American society.
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