Let’s Talk About Emotional Abuse

Summary

The article discusses the emotional abuse suffered by Trump's wives/ex-wives/girlfriends, emphasizing the difficulty of escaping such a relationship due to the cycle of abuse.

Abstract

The post "Let’s Talk About Trump’s Emotional Abuse" addresses the emotional abuse endured by the women in Donald Trump's life, suggesting that they are victims trapped in a cycle of abuse that makes it challenging to leave. It references Tony Schwartz's piece "The Psychopath in Chief," which highlights Trump's need for dominance, particularly over women, as evidenced by the infamous Access Hollywood tape and subsequent sexual assault allegations. The article sympathizes with Melania Trump, who is often negatively portrayed in the media and compared unfavorably to Michelle Obama, positing that her private life with Trump is likely distressing. The author, a survivor of narcissistic abuse, draws parallels between their own experience and Melania's, noting the manipulative tactics of narcissists like Trump, who initially charm their victims before revealing their lack of empathy. The article suggests that Melania, despite being a smart and educated woman, may struggle with self-blame and the effects of intermittent reinforcement, which can make leaving such a relationship particularly difficult.

Opinions

Trump's behavior towards women is indicative of emotional abuse and a need for dominance.
Melania Trump is likely a victim of emotional abuse, living an "awful life" with Trump in private.
The author identifies with Melania, having experienced narcissistic abuse themselves, and understands the difficulty of escaping such a relationship.
Trump's charm, money, power, and charisma are seen as initial attractions that mask his manipulative and empathy-lacking nature.
The article implies that Melania may be trapped in the relationship due to intermittent reinforcement and self-blame, despite her intelligence and education.
The public's lack of sympathy for Melania is mentioned, with the author suggesting she may long for freedom from her marriage to Trump.

Trump’s wives/ex-wives/girlfriends are (probably) all victims of emotional abuse, which makes escaping him extremely difficult.

This short and sweet post is in response to Tony Schwartz’s story about Trump, The Psychopath in Chief, particularly this passage:

Perhaps nowhere is Trump’s need for dominance more evident than in his relationship with women, captured most vividly in his comments to Billy Bush on the Access Hollywood tape. “You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful [women]. I just start kissing them,” he bragged. “It’s like a magnet. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy.” More than 20 women have now publicly accused Trump of sexual assault.

I would posit that Trump’s wives/ex-wives/girlfriends are all victims of emotional abuse, which makes leaving — nay, escaping — extremely difficult because of the way the cycle of abuse works.

Melania Trump has been much maligned in the press, and has been compared (perhaps unfairly) to Michelle Obama; however, I would lay odds that behind closed doors she has an awful life with this hideous man.

I, myself, have been a victim of narcissist abuse, and it was “only” for 10 months. It took me almost 12 months to deal with the emotional fallout, and I went to a very dark place. Melania has been with Trump for years, so she is, in essence, his emotional prisoner.

I would say that she, like anyone who is involved with a Cluster B personality, was probably swept off her feet by Trump’s narcissistic charm, money, power, and charisma. By the time she realised what she’d signed up for: a manipulative conman who is devoid of empathy — it was too late.

While Melania lives her life in the public eye and generates almost no sympathy, she would be privately wondering if she could ever be free of the malignant narcissist she married. Depending on how far along the intermittent reinforcement spectrum she is, and if she hasn’t completely lost herself, Melania would likely be berating herself every minute of every day wondering how she — a smart, educated woman — fell for Trump in the first place, and why she ignored all those red flags.

I know I did.