Neuropsychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik: “Trump is a psychopath.”

Guest of France Inter, neuropsychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik delivered a structured and straightforward clinical analysis of Donald Trump’s statements evoking the “annihilation” of a civilization in Iran. Refusing any abusive simplification, he immediately reframes: “We must not use the word crazy (…) a crazy person is irresponsible. But he is responsible, so he is not crazy. » A distinction that he considers essential to understand the scope of the remarks made. The specialist then puts forward a reasoned diagnosis: “He’s a psychopath. » He describes a functioning marked by “disorganization” and a difficulty in “inhibiting the drive”, placing this profile in a theoretical framework known in neuropsychiatry. According to him, this type of trajectory is explained in particular by an environment that values “the dollar god, individual success”, to the detriment of other benchmarks, leading to forms of “dehumanization”.
Boris Cyrulnik takes care to specify: “It is not a mental illness (…) it is a developmental disorder, an educational deficiency. » A nuance which, in its approach, makes it possible to maintain the distinction between pathology and responsibility. He finally describes a logic of action centered on immediacy: “They live in the present (…) they will say the opposite of what they said. No importance. »
“Donald Trump is not mentally ill. Trump is responsible, so he is not crazy. He is probably a psychopath.”
Neuropsychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik publishes “To the destruction of small happiness” (Odile Jacob) ➡️ https://t.co/9QH9TOc2Nf pic.twitter.com/6qtC3IMHLR
— France Inter (@franceinter) April 16, 2026
