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Many Americans have scrutinized the psychological and emotional health of former President Donald Trump, yet the highest executive office in the nation still does not require any tests affirming psychological wellness. Employees at far lower levels of government are subjected to these evaluations and required to pass them before taking their oaths. And while right-leaning writers attack President Biden’s cognitive acumen, they shy away from applying any similar scrutiny to his Republican predecessor.
Straight Arrow News contributor Ruben Navarrette observes the absurdity of this situation, and then asserts that Donald Trump suffers from deep, destabilizing psychological issues which should be disqualifying for the highest office. Navarrette argues that Americans should choose presidents who are psychologically stable, emotionally mature, and who can be trusted with U.S. security, and that Donald Trump fits none of those criteria.
To become a police officer, one needs to take and pass a psychological exam that evaluates one’s mental fitness for a law enforcement career. If an otherwise qualified candidate has any psychological hang-ups or a problematic temperament, we need to know that before he or she gets handed a badge and a firearm.
Likewise, there should be a psych evaluation for those who want to become commander in chief. If a candidate for president has any psychological hang-ups, or a problematic temperament, or any personal insecurities or microaggressions, we need to know that before he or she gets access to the nuclear codes.
That’s the conversation that Americans should be having in the march up to the 2024 presidential election. There’s a lot of talk at the moment about the memory of presidential candidates or their cognitive ability. But what we should really talk about and worry about and seek to evaluate early and often is a candidate’s psychological makeup. And if there were such a test, we can be sure one thing: Donald Trump would flunk it. There are not enough couches in this country to let Trump sort out all of his mental hang-ups.
