The lion that mews

Donald Trump's supporters see him as a strong, bold, courageous leader who is sure of himself, a fearless leader blazing the way by strength of will and character toward the goal of Making America Great Again.

One of the more laughable images of the 2016 campaign (especially in the early stages, when it wasn't clear that he wouldn't be running as an independent in November rather than as the Republican nominee) was the symbol of the man as a red, white and blue stylized lion, drawn in the familiar style of the Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey.

But Donald Trump is no lion. Strong, secure men don't go out of their way to kick puppies. They don't bully the weak or feel compelled to lash out at the slightest criticism or disagreement. They have nothing to prove. But narcissists are not strong, secure men (or women). That's why they're narcissists. They are driven by the need to prove to everyone- but most of all, to themselves- what they so deeply and so painfully doubt: their strength and their value and their abilities. Deep down they doubt themselves so much that they are obsessed with proving what real strong and courageous leaders don't need to prove.

Lions roar; they don't meow, much less mew. And they very, very seldom tweet, especially about how mean and unfair all the other animals are being to them.

But our president certainly does. Almost daily. He whines about how he's being mistreated by the Democrats or by the press or by... well, everybody. It's his second-favorite subject, exceeded only by himself. He's entitled, you see- and he just isn't being given his due: the unanimous, uncritical admiration and praise of the world. 

Narcissists in positions of power are dangerous because self-aggrandizement is their highest priority, to the point at which other considerations get disregarded. Well, the picture the Mueller Report paints of the President of the United States is based on the sworn testimony of those who have been close to him during his campaign and his presidency. It does not paint a picture of a strong leader who is firmly in control. Instead, it portrays an angry, erratic and impulsive man whose subordinates subvert and ignore his orders because they believe that it's the only way to prevent him from destroying himself.

This is what anyone who actually inquired into the man's personality during the campaign would have predicted. And some of us did. Others felt it more convenient to remain in denial.

Here veteran journalist and constitutional lawyer David French examines the Mueller Report and what it tells us about the man in the Oval Office and the administration he's running. I doubt that many supporters of the president will bother to actually read the report, being intent on ignoring any evidence which contradicts what they themselves want to believe. They are much like Mr. Trump himself in that respect. They will simply believe his oft-repeated lie that a report which says in so many words that it does not exonerate him does precisely that.

But thanks to Robert Mueller, the evidence is there: the tale of the Trump administration as told by those in a position to know, protected from reprisal. Most Trump supporters will remain in denial. But everything is now out in the open, and whether the American people avail themselves of this window into the Oval Office is up to them.

But if they do, I don't think that they will be happy with Mr. Trump- or content that he should remain in the Oval Office a moment longer than necessary.