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Attendees at a White House event burst into laughter on Wednesday after First Lady Melania Trump praised her husband’s “empathy.” Her husband is known for regularly insulting and bullying U.S. allied leaders and political opponents, as well as lying about his own repeated failures, but not for his empathy.
“Most know my husband as the strong commander-in-chief, but his empathy transcends the role-” she said as the crowd began laughing. She continued, “-and shape of a caring leader-” as her husband then smiled and shrugged, drawing even more laughter from the crowd.
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Amid the laughter, she concluded, “- who constantly remembers each and every American soldier is someone’s child.”
Analyses of Donald Trump’s behavior, particularly from critics, former staff, and mental health professionals, frequently suggest narcissistic personality traits, which characteristically include a lack of traditional empathy. Observers describe him as highly egocentric, often prioritizing self-aggrandizement over public consolation during crises.
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The only “empathy” he seemingly exhibits on a regular basis is his understanding and reflection of the anger and grievances of his followers, which he uses as a political tool.
He seems particularly unempathetic towards soldiers, considering that he drastically slashed the budget for Veterans Affairs and reportedly referred to dead soldiers in a veterans’ cemetery as “suckers” and “losers” for dying in a war.