In my work with the defendants (at the Nuremberg Trials 1945-1949), I was searching for the nature of evil, and I now think I have come close to defining it. A lack of empathy.” – Captain G. M. Gilbert, the Army psychologist assigned to observe defendants at the Nuremberg trials
I have lived and worked in several countries, many of which were in crisis, in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Regrettably, I had the opportunity to observe what we in the West describe as evil up close and personal. This includes warlords, child soldiers, rape victims, kidnappers, murderers, thieves, and corruption, of all descriptions. My sometimes tragic experiences in these dangerous and ultimately sad and troubling places led me to think about how to best define some of the most heinous acts I have seen. Following long contemplation, I was one day struck by the simplicity of it: the capacity for evil is directly proportional to an individual’s lack of empathy. Captain Gilbert, in the above quote regarding the Nuremberg trials of Nazis following WW II, seems to have captured an essential truth. Please note that the word evil in his construction and mine is not of divine origin. No gods or demons are required.
Mr. Trump is still in the early part of his presidency and has already unleashed chaos upon the US and the world, and all under the benign cloak of “Making America Great Again.” “Great” in this context is characterized by cruelty and indifference – traits of those lacking empathy. Regrettably, this quality appears to be wholly lacking in this president. I wonder, if true, does this make America’s Commander-in-Chief evil?
The often-bankrupted real estate mogul remains the poster child for a condition called NPD. Per the Mayo Clinic:
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition in which people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance. They need and seek too much attention and want people to admire them. People with this disorder may lack the ability to understand or care about the feelings of others. (italics mine) But behind this mask of extreme self-confidence, they are not sure of their self-worth and are easily upset by the slightest criticism.
One need not be a psychologist to see that America’s chief executive seems to fit the NPD diagnosis perfectly. Based on research, and in addition to the above, symptoms of this condition may also include “lying, manipulating others for personal benefit, unremorseful, inability to adapt to social norms, engaging in harmful and even illegal behaviors, impulsive and or reckless behaviors, verbal or physical violence, and disregard for the safety of others.” I rest my case.
The ketamine-fueled Mr. Musk seems cut from a similar bolt of cloth as this president. If you have any doubt, he is recently quoted in multiple sources saying, “The fundamental weakness of Western society is empathy…” He said it out loud. His campaign donations to Mr. Trump were approximately a quarter of a billion dollars! Aside from his money-purchases-political-influence methodology, Mr. Musk’s superpower seems to be the ability to ignore human costs. This may also provide the reason behind his selection to head the made-up Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has proven to be neither an actual department nor efficient. Men lacking empathy, or appreciation for the same, appear to flock together.
When America votes together at the United Nations with the vicious dictatorships of North Korea and Belarus, something is wrong. When US government employees are fired without notice or cause, something is wrong. When America betrays both Ukraine and its NATO allies of 80 years, something is wrong. When America supports the ethnic cleansing of Gaza (a war crime), something is wrong.
In my work with the defendants (at the Nuremberg Trials 1945-1949), I was searching for the nature of evil, and I now think I have come close to defining it. A lack of empathy.” – Captain G. M. Gilbert, the Army psychologist assigned to observe defendants at the Nuremberg trials
I have lived and worked in several countries, many of which were in crisis, in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Regrettably, I had the opportunity to observe what we in the West describe as evil up close and personal. This includes warlords, child soldiers, rape victims, kidnappers, murderers, thieves, and corruption, of all descriptions. My sometimes tragic experiences in these dangerous and ultimately sad and troubling places led me to think about how to best define some of the most heinous acts I have seen. Following long contemplation, I was one day struck by the simplicity of it: the capacity for evil is directly proportional to an individual’s lack of empathy. Captain Gilbert, in the above quote regarding the Nuremberg trials of Nazis following WW II, seems to have captured an essential truth. Please note that the word evil in his construction and mine is not of divine origin. No gods or demons are required.
Mr. Trump is still in the early part of his presidency and has already unleashed chaos upon the US and the world, and all under the benign cloak of “Making America Great Again.” “Great” in this context is characterized by cruelty and indifference – traits of those lacking empathy. Regrettably, this quality appears to be wholly lacking in this president. I wonder, if true, does this make America’s Commander-in-Chief evil?
The often-bankrupted real estate mogul remains the poster child for a condition called NPD. Per the Mayo Clinic:
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition in which people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance. They need and seek too much attention and want people to admire them. People with this disorder may lack the ability to understand or care about the feelings of others. (italics mine) But behind this mask of extreme self-confidence, they are not sure of their self-worth and are easily upset by the slightest criticism.
One need not be a psychologist to see that America’s chief executive seems to fit the NPD diagnosis perfectly. Based on research, and in addition to the above, symptoms of this condition may also include “lying, manipulating others for personal benefit, unremorseful, inability to adapt to social norms, engaging in harmful and even illegal behaviors, impulsive and or reckless behaviors, verbal or physical violence, and disregard for the safety of others.” I rest my case.
The ketamine-fueled Mr. Musk seems cut from a similar bolt of cloth as this president. If you have any doubt, he is recently quoted in multiple sources saying, “The fundamental weakness of Western society is empathy…” He said it out loud. His campaign donations to Mr. Trump were approximately a quarter of a billion dollars! Aside from his money-purchases-political-influence methodology, Mr. Musk’s superpower seems to be the ability to ignore human costs. This may also provide the reason behind his selection to head the made-up Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has proven to be neither an actual department nor efficient. Men lacking empathy, or appreciation for the same, appear to flock together.
When America votes together at the United Nations with the vicious dictatorships of North Korea and Belarus, something is wrong. When US government employees are fired without notice or cause, something is wrong. When America betrays both Ukraine and its NATO allies of 80 years, something is wrong. When America supports the ethnic cleansing of Gaza (a war crime), something is wrong.
I am not suggesting that US presidents make their policy decisions based wholly on compassion – a synonym for empathy. However, right and wrong matter; morality and ethics matter; fairness & justice matter; and finally, an appreciation for the truth matters as well. Is this Commander-in-Chief evil? Based on the available evidence, one could be forgiven for thinking so.
About the Author
Robert Bruce Adolph, a former university lecturer on US History and American Government, is a retired senior Army Special Forces officer and United Nations security chief who holds graduate degrees in both international affairs and national security studies and strategy. His previously published works have appeared in multiple journals, magazines, and newspapers in the US and Europe. Today, Adolph is an international speaker and author of the book “Surviving the United Nations: A True Story of Violence, corruption, betrayal, and Redemption, which is now out in an updated and revised second edition.
Discover more at www.robertbruceadolph.com.
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