Because it is against his nature; if someone else defeats him it is because somebody cheated him of robbed, or defrauded, but he can’t lose; that is for losers and he is not one of those he despises ardently. He has ODD. He is not the only leader with this syndrome; evidence shows that at least two other populist leaders have the same ailment: México’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro. If anyone of them loses an election, it has to be because there was a fraud.
Here is a possible explanation: Ever since he was a child, Donald J. Trump has been affected with the Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)[1], defined by the Mayo Clinic as a disorder marked by defiant and disobedient behavior to authority figures, frequent and persistent pattern of anger, irritability, arguing, defiance or vindictiveness toward authority figures. The symptoms include irritable mood, argumentative and defiant behavior, aggression, and vindictiveness that last more than six months and cause significant problems.[2]
“An adult with the oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) may feel mad at the world and lose his temper regularly — even daily. This may manifest as road rage or verbal abuse. It may cause tension with authority figures and trouble at work. It may tear apart relationships”.[3]
“Adults with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) display a pattern of negative, hostile, and defiant behavior that lasts at least six months and includes four (or more) of the following symptoms:
Often loses temper; Often argues with family and coworkers; Actively defies or refuses to comply with rules and laws; Deliberately annoys people; Blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior; Easily annoyed by others; Angry and resentful; Spiteful or vindictive”.[4]
“Adults with ODD are more than just aggressive and irritating from time to time. They feel mad at the world every day and lose their temper regularly. This may manifest as verbal abuse or road rage. Adults with ODD defend themselves relentlessly when someone says they’ve done something wrong. They feel misunderstood and disliked, hemmed in, and pushed around.
“Constant opposition to authority figures makes it difficult for adults with ODD to keep jobs and to maintain relationships and marriages. They are particularly quick to anger, they are impatient, and they have a low tolerance for frustration. They see themselves as mistreated, misunderstood, and unappreciated. They see themselves as the victim rather than the cause of the pain in the family system.”[5]
” The roots of ODD are unclear. It could be that a pattern of rebellion sets in when children with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are constantly at odds with adults who are trying to make them behave in ways that their executive function deficit prohibits. By the time kids have had ADHD symptoms for two or three years, 45 to 84 percent of them develop oppositional defiant disorder, too.
” ADHD make it more difficult to manage anger and frustration. The impulsive emotion associated with ADHD means a greater quickness to anger, impatience, and a low frustration tolerance, which can be the spark that lights the fire of ODD. Venting and acting out toward others leads to conflict. Maybe that’s why adults with ODD are more likely to get fired, even though poor work performance ratings are caused more by ADHD.”[6]
Today, “the big television networks, including Fox News, have declared Biden the winner. In normal times, this would have been the moment when the contest is over and the losing candidate concedes the choice. Typically, that happens the night of the election itself, but in exceptional circumstances, like Bush vs. Gore, it happened the day the Supreme Court issued its decision. As long as Trump does not concede or at least stop acting as the winner, the political process continues its course, with enormous risks and potential repercussions.
· “In the United States, each state is sovereign and follows its own rules and procedures for electoral purposes. Consequently, there is no central authority and there are no universal rules, so the process is not concluded until the requirements are met in each case.
· “What is exceptional is the way to determine the winner by the fact of the sovereignty of the states, not that procedures are followed. In all countries, there are procedures that must be followed. That is the legal part.
· “In political terms, what is relevant is the moment in which the losing candidate declares their acceptance of the result. That is the essence of democracy because it implies the validity of the rules over the people. That is what Trump has refused to accept and that is why the moment is so risky.
· “As long as Trump does not accept the result, his base will continue to cry out for fraud and will continue to act under the principle that the rules are not fair or equal for everyone.
· “For his part, Trump would continue to lay off officials and could issue decrees of various kinds, with enormous consequences.
· “It is very important that the media have declared the winner, but this is not over until it is over. As long as that does not happen, everything is possible”[7]
In light of the above, it is not surprising this twit posted minutes before all the media called the triumph of Joe Biden:
Later on, a Trump Campaign statement followed:
It is reasonable to expect that there will not be a concession speech, at least for the rest of this administration. It would be normal for him to show on January 20th, “under duress” to witness the assumption of office of Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. as the 46th President of the United States of America.
We invite you to read and watch some memorable pieces about this subject: https://sepgra.com/on-winning-and-losing/
SEPGRA Political Analysis Group
[1] The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, lists criteria for diagnosing ODD. The DSM-5 criteria include emotional and behavioral symptoms that last at least six months. Angry and irritable mood: Often and easily loses temper; is frequently touchy and easily annoyed by others; is often angry and resentful. Argumentative and defiant behavior: Often argues with adults or people in authority; often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults’ requests or rules; often deliberately annoys or upsets people; often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior; often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults’ requests or rules. Vindictiveness: Is often spiteful or vindictive; has shown spiteful or vindictive behavior at least twice in the past six months.
[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oppositional-defiant-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20375831?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=abstract&utm_content=Oppositional-defiant-disorder&utm_campaign=Knowledge-panel
[3] https://www.additudemag.com/oppositional-defiant-disorder-in-adults/
[4] idem
[5] idem
[6] https://www.additudemag.com/odd-in-adults-angry-oppositional/
[7] Luis Rubio