# Post ts_109029355974362892

- Post ID: `ts_109029355974362892`
- Platform: Truth Social
- Posted: 2022-09-20T06:39:04.440Z (UTC)
- Deleted: no
- Repost: no
- Canonical URL: https://trump.fm/post/ts_109029355974362892
- Analysis page: https://trump.fm/post/ts_109029355974362892/analysis
- Audio narration: https://static.trump.fm/audio/ts_109029355974362892.mp3 (a synthesized voice reading the post text, not a recording)

## Post text

> A small step for television, a giant step for mankind. Don Lemon, often called “the dumbest man on television” having made even Lebron James look smart during their interview two years ago, has been FIRED from his prime time evening spot on CNN - extremely low ratings - and will be thrown into their “Death Valley” morning show. I assume this means a BIG salary cut prior to his Complete & Total future firing from Ratings Challenged (to put it mildly!) CNN. Good luck Don, you’ll need it! MAGA!!!

## Engagement

- Likes: 38,213
- Reposts: 8,928
- Replies: 1,725
- Views: unknown
- Metrics collected: 2026-02-01T01:19:51.434Z (UTC)

# Analysis

_Machine-generated by trump.fm on 2026-03-19T23:01:58.289Z (UTC): a model's reading of this post, not his words. Its psychological terms describe the language, not a clinical assessment of him._

## Psychological Analysis: Post ts_109029355974362892

### Overview
Trump reacts to CNN's decision to move Don Lemon from primetime to the morning show. The post is a classic schadenfreude/dominance display — relishing an enemy's misfortune while claiming prior insight ("often called 'the dumbest man on television'").

### Authorship
Posted at 2:39 AM ET (Trump was likely at Mar-a-Lago or NY area given the Youngstown rally was Sept 17). This is peak authentic-Trump timing. The stream-of-consciousness structure, long parenthetical asides, ALL CAPS emphasis, and characteristic sign-off "MAGA!!!" all confirm personal authorship.

### Psychological Dynamics
This is a **supply-seeking/maintenance** post with sadistic enjoyment. Trump takes visible pleasure in Lemon's professional setback, frames it as validation of his own prior assessments, and projects future humiliation ("Complete & Total future firing"). The Neil Armstrong paraphrase opening ("A small step for television, a giant step for mankind") elevates a cable news personnel move to world-historical significance — grandiose framing that simultaneously mocks the target.

### Defense Mechanisms
- **Devaluation**: Lemon is "the dumbest man on television"
- **Projection**: The insult about intelligence is a recurring Trump pattern applied to media critics

### Rhetorical Devices
The post uses a recognizable Trump formula: nickname/insult → evidence of failure → prediction of further decline → sarcastic well-wishes. "Good luck Don, you'll need it!" is a signature passive-aggressive closer. The LeBron James reference functions as a two-for-one devaluation.

### Cognitive Notes
Coherent, well-structured for Trump. The Armstrong allusion shows cultural referencing ability. "DeVine" misspelling in a nearby post is notable but not in this one. No significant cognitive markers here.

## Fact Verification

| Claim | Verdict | Evidence |
|-------|---------|----------|
| "Don Lemon was moved from primetime to CNN morning show" | **True** | CNN announced in September 2022 that Don Lemon would move from CNN Tonight to co-anchor the new CNN This Morning. |
| "Lemon had 'extremely low ratings'" | **Half True** | CNN Tonight had lower ratings than competitors but was not the lowest on CNN. Framing as 'extremely low' is hyperbolic. |
| "Lemon interview with LeBron James two years ago made James 'look smart'" | **Mostly False** | Trump is referencing a 2018 LeBron James interview with Lemon where Trump tweeted insults at both. The characterization is Trump's opinion, not consensus. |

Overall Veracity: 57%

## Authorship Analysis

**Self-Written** (score: 95%)

### Indicators

- 2:39 AM ET posting time
- Stream-of-consciousness structure
- ALL CAPS emphasis
- MAGA!!! sign-off
- Sarcastic tone

## Psychological Profile

### State

**Grandiose State**

**Trigger:** Supply Seeking (CNN personnel change)

Sentiment: +0.60

**Mildly Hypomanic**
- Late night posting
- Elevated mood with grandiose framing

### Clinical

**Malignant Narcissism:**
- Narcissistic: 60%
- Antisocial: 20%
- Paranoid: 10%
- Sadism: 60%

**Defense Mechanisms:**
- devaluation (immature)
- projection (immature)

**Cognitive Complexity:**
- Complexity: 55%

**Parasocial Techniques:**
- shared enemy bonding
- victory narrative

## Fact Checks (3)

_The model's verdicts from 2026-03-19._

> Don Lemon was moved from primetime to CNN morning show

**TRUE**

CNN announced in September 2022 that Don Lemon would move from CNN Tonight to co-anchor the new CNN This Morning.

Sources: CNN announcements September 2022

> Lemon had 'extremely low ratings'

**HALF TRUE**

CNN Tonight had lower ratings than competitors but was not the lowest on CNN. Framing as 'extremely low' is hyperbolic.

Sources: Nielsen ratings data 2022

> Lemon interview with LeBron James two years ago made James 'look smart'

**MOSTLY FALSE**

Trump is referencing a 2018 LeBron James interview with Lemon where Trump tweeted insults at both. The characterization is Trump's opinion, not consensus.

Sources: Trump tweet August 2018

Overall Veracity: 57%

## Tags

- schadenfreude (80%)
- media-attack (70%)
- dominance-display (70%)
- sadistic-pleasure (60%)

## That day

_From trump.fm's machine-generated digest of the day, not his words._

**Post-Rally Schadenfreude and Strategic Silence on a Challenging Legal Day**

Trump spent the day coasting on the afterglow of his Youngstown, Ohio rally, posting late into the night to correct media coverage of a meeting with Ohio's governor. His mood brightened considerably as he gloated over CNN's decision to move Don Lemon off primetime, returning to the topic twice. The most telling moment was what he didn't say: a federal judge publicly challenged his lawyers on declassification claims that same day, but Trump stayed completely silent. The only concerning content was a promoted children's book pushing debunked election fraud claims to young readers.

Full digest for 2022-09-20: https://trump.fm/date/2022-09-20/analysis

## Citation

- APA: Trump, D. J. (2022, September 20). A small step for television, a giant step for... [Social media post]. Truth Social. trump.fm. https://trump.fm/post/ts_109029355974362892
- MLA: Trump, Donald J. "A small step for television, a giant step for mankind. Don..." Truth Social, 20 Sep. 2022. trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/ts_109029355974362892. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.
- Chicago: Donald J. Trump, "A small step for television, a giant step for mankind. Don...," Truth Social, September 20, 2022, archived at trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/ts_109029355974362892.

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