The magazine Psychology Today published an article listing the hallmarks of what is known in mental health circles as gaslighting.
The article said: “Gaslighting is a tactic in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes a victim question their reality. ... It is a common technique of abusers, dictators, narcissists and cult leaders. ... Gaslighters are masters at manipulating and finding the people they know will stand by them no matter what.”
Example: “What you are seeing and what you are reading is not what’s happening.” — Trump, July 24. In other words, don’t believe your lying eyes.
Example: “I said the word ‘would’ instead of ‘wouldn’t’ ... the sentence should have been ‘I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia.’ ” — Trump, July 17, referring to his comments at the Helsinki summit with Vladimir Putin. In other words, don’t believe what I said then, believe what I’m saying now.
Trump is a textbook example of a gaslighter.