Is Trump trying to establish himself as non compos mentis to avoid prosecution when he is ousted?

[gulliver]

He's acting unusually crazy, and I don't think there's much else to get him out of prosecution.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

1. no. He doesn't think that deeply. And his ego would never

allow such an idea.

But, good one, for sure. It's the only way to explain such crazy behavior. Dan Rather said it this morning. He hated to say it, blah, blah, blah, but he is starting to think "there's something wrong with him." duh

[Takket]

2. He really is just that petty and stupid

[hlthe2b]

3. I don't think it is an act.

In all likelihood--and a lot of neuro folks agree-- he is progressing through late-early to mid-stage dementia.

Might those around him--including his lawyers-- think it will give him an out against prosecution? Quite possibly. Though I doubt Trump has admitted any problem exists--even to himself.

Signs will increasingly be less subtle in the coming months. But if you have spent time with patients experiencing any of the major forms of dementia, the signs are already there.

**That said, all this is just overlain onto his extreme personality disorder--malignant narcissism, which has been manifest throughout his life**.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. He's not the sort of crazy that would get him off the hook

in a criminal prosecution. Of course he's a hot mess psychologically, but for an insanity defense to be successful the defendant has to be so mentally ill that he doesn't know what he's doing or that he's committing a crime, or that because of his mental illness he's unable to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law. Fat Nixon knows what he's doing and he knows that most of it is illegal or unconstitutional or unethical or some combination of those things; he just doesn't care and figures he can get away with it. There may be some element of age-related mental decline, but he's not legally insane. And even if he were, the result of a successful insanity defense is usually that the defendant is committed to a mental hospital indefinitely instead of going to prison.

[sir pball]

9. This, 1000x this.

I think he may be mentally compromised enough that he thinks there won't be consequences for his actions, but he's still acutely aware of right v wrong and is trying to cover his ass - that's in no way Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. Not that that would really help, John Hinckley was not found guilty of any crime and he's only been "free" (with serious restrictions) for a couple years.

I guess he could argue diminished capacity, but that would at best help his sentencing and at his age and physical state, anything less than a year or two would end up with him dying in prison anyway.

[randr]

5. Not an act

He is seriously ill and no one around him has the nerve to help him

[abqtommy]

6. It's either prosecute tRUMP or institutionalize him for life.

Either way he loses.

[WheelWalker]

7. He's composted.

Yep.

[sprinkleeninow]

8. I must be way tired. Does it say nincompoop mentis? 🤔 😝

[Oregon1947]

10. He was crazy at day 1, think you're reading too much into his daily lunacy.