Member-only story
Age of Delusion
How Paranoia and Grievance Control Trump’s Geopolitics and Tariff Wars
In the current administration, rational decision-making has been replaced by something far more dangerous: policy driven by delusion and grievance rather than reality.
We are witnessing in real time how paranoid thinking, when elevated to the level of national policy, creates ripple effects that destabilize international relations and economic systems alike. The intersection of misguided foreign policy, economically unsound trade decisions, and manufactured grievances has created a perfect storm of global instability, with consequences that will likely echo for generations.
The Psychology of Grievance Politics
At the heart of many political missteps lies a fundamental psychological truth: human egos seek validation through the harboring of grievances. This tendency, when manifested in leaders, transforms personal insecurities into national policy.
As historian Doris Kearns Goodwin observes, “Throughout history, we’ve seen how a leader’s personal grievances can become dangerously magnified when given the power of state.” The cultivation of grievance provides a seductive sense of moral superiority and serves as justification for hostility toward perceived offenders.
