President Trump’s response to Iran’s shooting down a U.S. drone in the Straits of Hormuz demonstrates the impulsivity that is a hallmark of his ADHD. Understanding that Mr. Trump exhibits a severe and inadequately treated case of ADHD allows us to make some sense of what otherwise appears to be a collection of disparate and bizarre behaviors. While other aspects of his character, including his widely noted narcissism, may contribute to what ideas his brain formulates, his ADHD shapes how his brain works: what enters his mind, and all of the thoughts and utterances that spew out.
Examination of the role that Mr. Trump’s ADHD plays in his decision making and other actions does not involve partisan politics or a critique of his policies themselves. You can support his approach of using threats to employ brutal force in order to coerce diplomatic concessions and still see how his ADHD hampers and undermines this strategy. You can support his avowed resistance to starting another invasive Middle East war while still seeing how his ADHD-driven behavior undercuts this game plan. Although his ADHD did not create his policies, ADHD contributes to his inability to reconcile the conflicting stances of isolationism and attempted maximal intimidation, and to clearly articulate his overall strategy.
Impulsivity characterized Mr. Trump’s decision to launch strikes on Iran, and then a…
