Therapists Discusses Conditions Many Of His Patients Are Suffering From
The phenomenon often labeled “Trump Derangement Syndrome” has been part of the national conversation since 2016, but according to psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert, it is not fading with time. In fact, he argues it has become more widespread, more disruptive, and more revealing about the state of American political culture than ever before.
During a recent appearance on Fox News with Harris Faulkner, Alpert described what he sees in his practice: individuals who are “obsessed with Trump,” exhibiting a “hyperfixation” that dominates their emotional well‑being.
He noted symptoms ranging from sleeplessness and restlessness to anxiety triggered simply by seeing Trump’s name or image. One patient, he recalled, was unable to enjoy a vacation because encountering Trump-related news on her phone was enough to derail her entire day. As Alpert put it, “This is a profound pathology… the defining pathology of our time.”
NEW: Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert says that 75% of the patients he sees have a deep hatred for Trump and are "hyper fixated" on him.
"They can't sleep, they feel traumatized by Mr. Trump."
"I had one patient who said she couldn't enjoy a vacation because anytime she saw… pic.twitter.com/q4n3KMtzFV
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 14, 2025
What stands out is the consistency of these reactions. Alpert estimates that roughly three-quarters of his patients express some form of this fixation, often within minutes of beginning a session. Trump acts as a psychological “trigger” for them, a singular figure onto whom fear, frustration, and political dread are projected.
Alpert contrasted this climate with past eras, pointing to the well-known moment after President Reagan’s assassination attempt when political unity temporarily overrode partisan divides. In his view, that sense of shared national identity has eroded.
Existing research aligns with these observations. Studies conducted in 2017 and 2020 found that large numbers of Americans reported measurable declines in mental well‑being over politics: disrupted sleep, increased stress, intrusive thoughts, strained relationships, and impulsive social media behavior. Individuals on the political left were more likely to report such impacts, and these effects intensified over the course of Trump’s first term.
Beyond the immediate psychological toll, the broader implications are significant. The intensity of these reactions underscores how expansive and intrusive American governance has become. A system with such reach into daily life inevitably heightens emotional investment in political outcomes. The research also reflects the influence of modern media, which frequently frames politics in catastrophic or existential terms, amplifying stress and deepening divisions.
While the label “Trump Derangement Syndrome” is often used humorously or rhetorically, the underlying dynamics—political overload, psychological fatigue, and media-driven anxiety—offer a clearer view of why so many Americans are struggling to disengage.