Consider the possibility that Donald Trump believes what he’s saying. That’s what narcissists do.

While I lack the qualifications to offer an official diagnosis, I’ve had close experience with a diagnosed narcissist, enough to make me think that Trump’s repeated lies may not actually be lies, at least not according to a strict dictionary definition. Lying generally implies intent to deceive.

He may be telling his own narcissistic truth. I can see the possibility that Trump believes his crowd at his inauguration was the biggest in history, or that he believes he received a wild ovation while complaining about the press to the CIA, that he believes illegal voters denied him the popular vote.

If this is the case, it’s easy to understand why President Trump lives in constant frustration, thinking the press is against him, women are against him, Democrats are against him. He knows the truth because he can’t be wrong--“ I made a speech. I looked out, the field was, it looked like a million, million and a half people.”—and is baffled and insulted by the fact that most people deny his reality

If Trump has a classic, clinical case of NPD, his position makes it hard to drum up much sympathy. You can feel sorry for a rabid dog, but Fido with rabies is a danger to everyone.

And, of course, zero sympathy is accorded to his spokespersons. They’re lying, and we’re all qualified to make that diagnosis.