Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump

One of thousands of Trump tweets analyzed by psychologist John Gartner for a book about Trump's tweets. Courtesy #UNFIT

Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump is the documentary that Donald J. Trump does not want you to see especially as the election closes in.

The film’s chief thesis is the question of whether or not Donald Trump is fit to hold the highest office in the land.  The answer to this question is no, of course.  Even though this is my opinion, it’s a professional diagnosis form many mental health professionals.  A number of political strategists believe that it’s important for them to go on the record.  It’s this idea of having a Duty to Warn.

“Donald Trump is like a practical joke that got out of hand,” Lincoln Project co-founder George Conway offers in a rare on-camera interview.

“We have a duty to warn,” says psychologist John Gartner.  Gartner also gives Trump the same diagnosis as Hitler.

“Donald Trump does not have the temperament to be around these systems” says Malcolm Nance, a former intelligence officer. Nance provides a lot of information here–please don’t ignore him.

During the 2016 presidential election, the APA (American Psychiatric Association) blocked mental health professionals from discussing political candidates.  This is less so to politicize mental health but to prevent any discussion about Trump.  It is what it is–sound familiar?

A number of psychiatrists and psychoanalysts are interviewed on camera.  Many of them offer the same opinion in that Trump is unfit to serve in office.  It’s a running theme throughout the film when it comes to the narcissist living at the White House.  Even former Trump White House officials make an appearance.

Remember Anthony Scaramucci?  He lasted 11 days in the White House.  He’s also here, too.  Scaramucci’s red line is the United States Constitution.  He turns on Trump with his trampling on the important document.  The very same document that he claims to have read, of course.

Other White House officials from previous Republican administrations make appearances.  They’re all hear to say the same thing: Trump is Unfit to Serve.  What’s most fascinating here is that while the film does get preachy, anyone that makes a partisan appearance is a conservative.  Put it this way: if you were not a Trump critic before viewing, you’ll probably become one as a result.  Listen, it’s not on me to tell you how to vote but when conservatives appear on camera and warn you, it’s something that must be taken into account.

Dan Partland makes sure to include footage from 2020.  You certainly can’t ignore news footage and the Coronavirus press briefings.  It’s impossible.  Many of Trump’s press briefings in March are enough to contract a migraine.  His calling out of respectable news journalists is a disgrace in and of itself.

Unfit is a must-watch documentary for anybody on the fence about the current election.

DIRECTOR:  Dan Partland
FEATURING:  Malcolm Nance, George Conway, John Gartner, Lance Dodes, Justin Frank, Ramani Durvasula, Anthony Scaramucci, Suzanne Lachmann, Rick Reilly, Bill Kristol, Richard Painter, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Cheryl Koos, Sheldon Solomon

Dark Star Pictures will release Unfit in virtual cinemas on August 28, 2020 and Digital/VOD on September 1, 2020. Grade: 4/5

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.