A group of five Republican state senators from Minnesota is set to introduce a controversial bill that would classify “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS) as a mental illness.
The proposal, scheduled for review by the Minnesota Senate Health and Human Services Committee, argues that the condition is characterized by an “acute onset of paranoia” triggered by the presidencies of Donald Trump.
According to the bill’s text, TDS symptoms include “Trump-induced general hysteria, which produces an inability to distinguish between legitimate policy differences and signs of psychic pathology in President Donald J. Trump’s behavior.” The legislators further suggest that these symptoms may manifest as intense verbal hostility and even “overt acts of aggression and violence” towards Trump and his supporters.
The co-sponsoring senators—Glenn Gruenhagen, Justin Eichorn, Nathan Wesenberg, Steve Drazkowski, and Eric Lucero—believe that incorporating TDS into the legal definition of mental illness will help address what they see as a growing political and social crisis. They argue that the term should be integrated into state statutes on mental health to better identify and manage what they describe as an epidemic of politically induced paranoia.
This move comes amid heightened partisan tensions, as the phrase “Trump Derangement Syndrome” has long been used by Trump and his allies to dismiss criticism and dissent. During his presidential campaigns, Trump’s top communication advisers frequently accused his detractors of suffering from TDS, a claim that has since permeated political discourse on both sides.
However, many mental health experts contend that TDS is not a legitimate clinical condition. They argue that it is a politically charged label aimed at discrediting any criticism of the former president, regardless of its validity. Critics warn that formally classifying TDS as a mental illness could pave the way for the politicization of mental health diagnoses and potentially restrict political expression.
In addition to concerns over the misuse of psychiatric labels, some worry that the bill could have broader implications. If adopted, it might set a precedent for using mental health as a tool to silence political opposition—a move that many view as both dangerous and ethically questionable.
The proposal has already ignited heated debates. For instance, political commentator Ed Krassenstein, who boasts over one million followers on social media, criticized the bill in a now-viral post. Krassenstein questioned whether Minnesota Democrats should counter-propose a similar measure by classifying “MAGA” as a cult, highlighting the absurdity and potential dangers of legislating political opinion through the lens of mental health.
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Meanwhile, the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently took to social media to defend President Trump’s policies, arguing that the so-called TDS is a tactic employed by Democrats and the media to oppose his efforts to cut wasteful spending in government.
Leavitt claimed, “Trump Derangement Syndrome is causing Democrats and the media to oppose President Trump’s commonsense efforts. They can’t stand that we finally have a President who actually delivers on his promises.”
The bill is part of a broader context in Minnesota, where political divisions are stark. The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) currently holds a narrow one-seat majority in the Senate, while the Minnesota House of Representatives is evenly split between the DFL and Republicans.
The proposal is scheduled for a committee review on Monday, where it will be debated and either passed on to the Senate floor for a vote or rejected outright.