Re: "Why Trump Supporters Don't Mind Lies"

To the editor:

Daniel Effron (4/28/18, Why Trump Supporters Don’t Mind Lies) cites research that supports the idea President Trump’s lies are tolerated by his supporters because they can be regarded as plausible and hence less unethical or immoral. He describes as a ‘subtle psychological strategy,’ for example, Sarah Huckabee Sanders responding to Trump falsely claiming that a Muslim had committed assault by saying ‘Whether it’s a real video, the threat is real.’

 As a psychoanalyst, I hardly find this subtle. However effective, language has been manipulated to say, in effect, the truth does not matter. The focus is progressively moved away from the false statement about a video to a ‘threat’ that makes the President’s lie irrelevant or, perversely, illustrative of the threat. The truth is twisted.

 I suggest that President Trump’s core supporters are not expending too much energy thinking about his lies or, worse his being a ‘liar.’ They will rationalize his statements as ‘white lies’ as long as they believe his policies address their concerns. It is deeply ironic that his biggest lie – his urge to help those truly in need – goes undetected by his core supporters.

Respectfully submitted,

Larry S. Sandberg MD