Trump showed the world Tuesday night that he cannot distinguish fact from fiction.
His repeating a story of Haitian immigrants eating local pets during the debate was astounding. It showed his inability to discern what information is reliable. He put this “menace” on par with global security (Afghanistan withdrawal) and human rights (Abortion). This complete lack of judgment is made worst by how he tried to establish the fact.
When told there was no credible reports of this happening his response was telling. “I’ve seen people on television! …...” If someone says it on television, Trump thinks it’s true. So true to make it a campaign point in front of millions during a debate. This is insanity.
This is not the first instance of this, naturally. Several years ago Trump was complaining about hoards of migrants from Mexico that included Middle Eastern figures using the swarm as cover. Trump specifically mentioned prayer rugs being left behind in the desert. He talked about how the migrants had super powered vehicles that allowed them to escape. He demanded Border Patrol investigate. They did. Never happened. In real life.
They were scenes from the movie Sicario. It was the omnipresent and delightful Rachel Maddow who pointed this out, showing specific lines from Trump’s speech and matching them to scenes in the movie. Trump saw this movie and thought it was happening in real life. He can not distinguish what he sees on tv from reality.
The most famous example is Trump saying he “heard” that injecting disinfectant can cure Covid. While it’s likely he heard himself suggest it over dinner, the idea that he, again and in public, told an anxious American public that this is a possibility shows how he has long lacked the simple ability to know what is fact and what isn’t. Something he “hears” becomes a reality.
Trump can no longer distinguish fact from fiction. Not fact from opinion. Fact from outright fiction.
This is a danger beyond threats.