Treason, Projection, and the Politics of Blame: What Trump's Obsession with Obama Really Reveals

“When unhealed wounds lead a nation, pain becomes policy.” - Mary Coughlin

If you’ve been watching Trump’s public statements lately, you’ve probably noticed a recurring theme: his fixation on Barack Obama. Not just criticism — full-on accusations of treason.

Let’s be clear up front: there is no evidence, no basis, no legal standing for these claims. But that’s not really the point.

So why does he keep doing it?

Psychological Projection in Action

Trump's attacks on Obama — and others, for that matter — are classic psychological projection. When he accuses others of treason, corruption, or subversion, it often mirrors exactly what he himself is being investigated or indicted for.

It’s a smokescreen.
It’s a survival instinct.
It’s the trauma pattern of someone who avoids accountability by externalizing blame — over and over again.

A Jealousy He Can’t Hide

It’s not just projection — it’s envy. Trump desperately wants what Obama has:

• Global respect

• A Nobel Peace Prize

• A reputation for dignity and poise

• A legacy built on substance, not spectacle

He doesn’t just dislike Obama — he resents him. Because Obama represents everything Trump was told he needed to be… but was never allowed to become.

The Family Blueprint: Mary Trump’s Warning

This isn’t speculation. Trump’s own niece, Dr. Mary L. Trump, a clinical psychologist, wrote a searing book titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man. In it, she unpacks the intergenerational trauma, emotional neglect, and brutal conditioning that shaped Donald from an early age.

Trump was raised in a household where vulnerability was punished, emotional connection was absent, and performance was everything.

According to Mary, Trump’s father taught him that being perceived as “weak” — needing help, expressing empathy, admitting fault — was unforgivable. Emotional armor became a survival tool.

So when Obama enters the picture — dignified, intelligent, connected, respected — Trump sees more than a political opponent. He sees a psychological threat to his entire identity.

And he lashes out. Again and again.

This Isn’t Just Petty — It’s Perilous

Calling a former president guilty of treason isn’t about truth. It’s about narrative control and rallying the faithful. It sends a message:

“Believe me, no matter how outrageous the claim. Or you’re the enemy.”

That’s not democracy.
That’s not debate.
That’s authoritarianism dressed up in red, white, and blue.

A Trauma-Informed Lens on Leadership and Legacy

From the lens of trauma-informed care, this is painfully familiar:

• The child who lashes out because they’re terrified of being unseen.

• The adult who can’t tolerate others receiving the love or praise they crave.

• The leader who mistakes domination for strength and retaliation for justice.

When unhealed wounds take the microphone, they don’t whisper.
They broadcast.
And if we’re not careful, we mistake the noise for truth.

What We’re Really Called to Do

We are not just fighting disinformation.
We are confronting unacknowledged pain weaponized into power.

That’s why it’s not enough to fact-check the treason claims or debate Trump’s record. We have to understand what’s underneath — and refuse to be manipulated by it.

Mary Trump gave us the psychological blueprint.
Barack Obama continues to offer a contrast in calm, confident leadership.
And we, the people, are left with a choice:

Will we follow the voice of grievance and projection?
Or the voice of wholeness, truth, and care?

With clarity, courage, and a heart for healing,

Mary