# Post ts_110941704180891810

- Post ID: `ts_110941704180891810`
- Platform: Truth Social
- Posted: 2023-08-24T00:14:22.330Z (UTC)
- Deleted: no
- Repost: no
- Canonical URL: https://trump.fm/post/ts_110941704180891810
- Analysis page: https://trump.fm/post/ts_110941704180891810/analysis
- Audio narration: https://static.trump.fm/audio/ts_110941704180891810.mp3 (a synthesized voice reading the post text, not a recording)

## Post text

> RT: https://truthsocial.com/users/realDonaldTrump/statuses/110941695094977026“DeSantis Repeatedly Praised Fauci” https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/01/politics/ron-desantis-fauci-trump-covid-kfile/index.html

## Reposted post

Original: https://trump.fm/post/ts_110941695094977026 (2023-08-24T00:12:03.698Z (UTC))

> “Ron DeSantis praised Anthony Fauci for Covid response in spring 2020 for ‘really doing a good job’” https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/01/politics/ron-desantis-fauci-trump-covid-kfile/index.html

- image: https://static-assets-1.truthsocial.com/tmtg:prime-ts-assets/media_attachments/files/110/941/695/060/763/130/original/3f343bb51aafc54d.jpg

## What the media says

**Video transcript** (2:38), transcribed automatically, so names and numbers may be wrong. Speakers aren't identified, so a voice in it may not be his:

> file. Andrew Kaczynski went back and he found DeSantis saying some very different things about Fauci. Here's DeSantis in March of 2020. You have a lot of people there who are working very, very hard. And they're not getting a lot of sleep and they're really focusing on a big country that we have. And from Dr. Birx to Dr. Fauci to the vice president who's worked very hard, the surgeon general, they're really doing a good job. All right. So Kay Fowles, Andrew Kaczynski as advertisers now out front. So Andrew, I just played one example of DeSantis praising Fauci, obviously very early on in the pandemic. You found about as far from the only time that DeSantis praised the man, but he now bashes regularly. Yeah, that's right. It's more than one example. It's actually 10 examples at least that we found in which he either cited or praised Dr. Fauci. And what's interesting about this is he's citing him to put in place those policies early in the pandemic in Florida that he now criticizes as lockdowns. His campaign, Aaron, they've been criticizing Trump. They've been saying Trump supports lockdowns because he advocated those exact same policies at the same time as DeSantis. And this isn't some K-file hit in which the team is pulling something from 30 years ago. This was three years ago. We all remember Donald Trump very early on was calling in April and May to end those lockdowns. Right. I remember the churches were going to be open by Easter. Exactly. And he criticized Fauci earlier than DeSantis did too. He was retweeting calls to fire Fauci in April. He had some of his staff over the summer had some very direct hits on Fauci. He criticized Fauci about opening schools. Take a listen to these comments from DeSantis at some of those early Florida press briefings. The president's task force has been great. I mean, you call, we've talked Dr. Fauci number of times, talked to US Surgeon General number of times, VP. They've been really, really good and really, really helpful. I would defer to people like Dr. Fauci. I think Dr. Fauci has said nationwide, you're looking at 16 weeks of where we're really going to be having to dig in here. And you say there were at least 10 of those. And if he continued to do that, even as Trump had turned on Fauci, so Trump turned first. Yeah, Trump turns on Fauci pretty, I mean, it was honestly, we all remember because we were there, there was the height of the pandemic, especially here in New York City. And Trump is criticizing Fauci early spring and May right around that time.

## Media

- video: https://static-assets-1.truthsocial.com/tmtg:prime-ts-assets/media_attachments/files/110/941/704/015/539/545/original/a504cabb35d09d67.mp4

## Engagement

- Likes: 6,966
- Reposts: 2,019
- Replies: 193
- Views: unknown
- Metrics collected: 2026-02-01T01:19:51.401Z (UTC)

# Analysis

_Machine-generated by trump.fm on 2026-03-20T07:50:36.320Z (UTC): a model's reading of this post, not his words. Its psychological terms describe the language, not a clinical assessment of him._

## Summary

This post is a tactically calibrated primary-season attack rather than a psychologically florid communication. Arriving within hours of Trump's historic mugshot at Fulton County Jail, it represents classic displacement: the humiliation and legal submission of the booking is redirected into competitive dominance over DeSantis. The mechanism is sophisticated — weaponizing CNN (normally dismissed as enemy media) against a Republican rival creates an unwinnable double-bind for DeSantis while simultaneously activating the MAGA tribal loyalty test around Fauci as an ideological touchstone. The timing during the first GOP debate Trump skipped maximizes rival exposure with minimal risk to Trump. The post is almost certainly aide-facilitated or automatically reshared rather than authentic Trump composition — the mechanical RT format, attached video, and clean grammar contrast sharply with the same-day ALL-CAPS posts about indictments and Fox News. Psychologically, this reflects goal-directed competitive aggression in a grandiose narcissistic state, with displacement as the primary defense against the stressor of the mugshot. Epistemic opportunism (invoking CNN's credibility selectively) demonstrates strategic hypocrisy over belief-consistent communication. No clinical escalation relative to baseline. Danger level: none.

# Analysis: Truth Social Post — August 24, 2023 (ts_110941704180891810)

## Overview

This is a functionally minimal post: a retruth (RT) of Trump's own immediately preceding post (ts_110941695094977026), appending a CNN article headline attacking Ron DeSantis for praising Anthony Fauci during the early COVID period. The post's primary content is the headline "DeSantis Repeatedly Praised Fauci" and a link to a CNN investigation published June 2023. The companion post in the context (same date, same content but without the RT prefix) confirms this is a resharing amplification of the same attack vector.

## Authorship Attribution

**UTC:** 2023-08-24T00:14:22Z  
**Local time (EST/EDT, UTC-4):** August 23, 2023, 8:14 PM EDT

Trump's location: He surrendered at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta on August 24, but the booking was processed August 24 local Atlanta time. The UTC timestamp of 00:14 corresponds to 8:14 PM EDT on August 23 — consistent with Trump being at Bedminster NJ or in transit before the Atlanta surrender. Either way, Eastern timezone applies.

Evening time (8:14 PM ET) falls in the ambiguous zone — outside pure business-hours aide windows, but not yet in the late-night authentic Trump range. The mechanical RT format ("RT: [URL]") and clean grammar suggest either aide facilitation or an automated retruth mechanism native to Truth Social. The attached MP4 media file further implies curation rather than impulsive composition. **Assessment: likely aide-facilitated or automated reshare, moderate confidence.** The original post (ts_110941695094977026), which this retruths, may have been more authentically composed; the RT itself is a relay mechanism.

## Contextual Frame

This post arrives in an extraordinary 48-hour window:
- Trump's mugshot had just been taken at Fulton County Jail (first in presidential history)
- The first major GOP primary debate had just concluded without Trump
- Trump's Tucker Carlson counter-programming interview had aired

Attacking DeSantis in this moment serves multiple functions simultaneously: it redirects collective attention from the mugshot/indictment narrative, exploits the post-debate vacuum when rivals were most exposed, and directly attacks the chief primary rival on ideologically potent terrain (Fauci = betrayal of the base).

## Level 1 — Dispositional Traits

**Agreeableness (very low):** The post is a pure competitive attack. No community-building, no warmth. Low-agreeableness facets (antagonism, opposition) are fully expressed.

**Extraversion (assertive facet):** Dominant and offensive posture. Asserting competitive superiority over DeSantis.

**Openness (very low, values rigidity):** The Fauci attack works precisely because the base holds Fauci as an ideological fixed point. The post appeals to and reinforces that cognitive closure.

**Neuroticism (suppressed in this post):** Unlike the ALL-CAPS indictment posts from the same day, this is controlled, tactical — neuroticism is managed or externalized outward through the attack rather than displayed.

## Level 2 — Characteristic Adaptations

**Agency motives dominant:** This is a power/status move to diminish a competitor. The goal is hierarchical — to disqualify DeSantis as a legitimate heir to the MAGA movement by revealing an apostasy moment (praising Fauci).

**Schema at work:** DeSantis is constructed as a fraud, an imposter who cannot be trusted because he "praised Fauci." The attack is designed to trigger a specific loyalty test within MAGA epistemology — Fauci is the symbol of pandemic overreach and governmental betrayal. Anyone who praised Fauci is, by that schema, complicit in the betrayal.

**Instrumental use of hostile source:** The tactical sophistication here is notable: CNN, typically dismissed by Trump as "fake news" and "enemy of the people," is weaponized as evidence against a Republican rival. This represents epistemic opportunism — the credibility of CNN is invoked selectively when its reporting serves the attack, while being categorically dismissed otherwise. This is not cognitive inconsistency per se; it is strategic hypocrisy, the mark of goal-directed rather than belief-driven communication.

## Level 3 — Narrative Identity

**Protagonist role:** Implicitly, Trump as the one who never compromised — the pure anti-Fauci, anti-lockdown warrior. DeSantis is cast as the contaminating other, the false prophet who praised the enemy.

**Contamination sequence projected onto DeSantis:** "You were good, then you praised Fauci, therefore you are contaminated." This is a reverse contamination narrative applied to a rival.

**Contrasting other:** DeSantis is the defined-against figure here. The identity claim is implicit: "I am the real anti-establishment candidate; DeSantis is a fraud."

## Level 4 — Clinical Indicators

**Narcissistic trigger:** The primary debate without Trump, the mugshot, and DeSantis's continued poll presence represent multiple concurrent narcissistic injuries — competitive threat, forced legal submission, rival visibility. This post deflects and attacks.

**Narcissistic state:** Grandiose with a defensive substrate. The attack on DeSantis reasserts hierarchical dominance ("I am ahead by 50 points," as stated in same-day posts) while the mugshot creates a rare moment of objective public submission (inmate P01135809).

**Defense mechanisms:** Displacement — the rage and humiliation of the mugshot/indictment are redirected onto DeSantis. The target is safer (a rival rather than the legal system) and politically useful.

**Splitting:** CNN is all-bad when critical of Trump, all-useful when it documents a rival's supposed betrayal. Classic object constancy failure.

## Rhetorical Techniques

**Whataboutism-adjacent:** Rather than responding to his own legal jeopardy, Trump points at DeSantis's supposed hypocrisy.

**Weaponized endorsement from adversary:** Using CNN to attack a Republican creates a double-bind for DeSantis: defending himself requires either rehabilitating CNN (unacceptable to base) or dismissing the reporting (which looks like denial).

**Guilt by association:** The Fauci connection activates tribal loyalty tests. You are either with or against Fauci; anyone who was ever with Fauci is suspect.

**Timing exploitation:** Posted during/after the GOP debate Trump skipped — maximum rival exposure with minimum Trump visibility/risk.

## Gaslighting / Reality Distortion

No overt gaslighting in this post. The CNN article appears to accurately document DeSantis's spring 2020 statements praising Fauci — the core factual claim is largely supported.

## Cognitive Status

Minimal language to assess given the brevity and mechanical RT format. The post is a relay, not a composition. No cognitive markers evaluable.

## Danger Assessment

**None.** This is competitive primary politics, adversarial but within normal electoral combat parameters. No dehumanizing language, no stochastic terrorism indicators, no eliminationist rhetoric. The target is a political rival, not a perceived enemy of the state.

## Fact Verification

| Claim | Verdict | Evidence |
|-------|---------|----------|
| "DeSantis Repeatedly Praised Fauci" | **Mostly True** | The CNN K-File investigation (June 2023) documented DeSantis publicly praising Fauci and his team in spring 2020, saying they were 'really doing a good job' with the COVID response. DeSantis subsequently became one of Fauci's most vocal critics and rivals. The core factual claim is documented; 'repeatedly' may slightly overstate the frequency of the praise. |

Overall Veracity: 80%

## Authorship Analysis

**Aide-Written** (score: 30%)

### Indicators

- Mechanical RT prefix format ('RT: [URL]') suggests automated reshare or aide facilitation
- Attached MP4 media file implies curation and preparation rather than impulsive composition
- Clean grammar and structured format without typos inconsistent with authentic Trump late-night posting
- Posting time 8:14 PM ET falls in ambiguous zone - not clearly aide business hours but not late-night authentic window either
- Original post (ts_110941695094977026) which this retruths may be more authentic; RT itself is relay mechanism

## Psychological Profile

### State

**Grandiose State**

**Trigger:** Narcissistic Injury — Comparison (DeSantis competitive threat, mugshot/indictment submission, first GOP debate without Trump)

Sentiment: -0.45

### Clinical

**Malignant Narcissism:**
- Narcissistic: 55%
- Antisocial: 25%
- Paranoid: 20%
- Sadism: 20%

**Defense Mechanisms:**
- displacement (immature)
- splitting (immature)
- rationalization (neurotic)

**Cognitive Complexity:**
- Complexity: 20%

**Parasocial Techniques:**
- Activating tribal loyalty test (Fauci as ideological touchstone)
- Double-bind construction forcing DeSantis into unwinnable response position
- Timing exploitation during GOP debate window for maximum rival exposure

## Fact Checks (1)

_The model's verdicts from 2026-03-20._

> DeSantis Repeatedly Praised Fauci

**MOSTLY TRUE**

The CNN K-File investigation (June 2023) documented DeSantis publicly praising Fauci and his team in spring 2020, saying they were 'really doing a good job' with the COVID response. DeSantis subsequently became one of Fauci's most vocal critics and rivals. The core factual claim is documented; 'repeatedly' may slightly overstate the frequency of the praise.

Sources: CNN K-File, June 1 2023: 'Ron DeSantis praised Anthony Fauci for Covid response in spring 2020'

Overall Veracity: 80%

## Tags

- primary-attack (90%)
- desantis-targeting (90%)
- fauci-weaponization (85%)
- displacement-defense (75%)
- aide-facilitated (65%)
- mugshot-context (80%)
- epistemic-opportunism (80%)
- post-debate-timing (70%)

## That day

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

**Mugshot Day: 63 Posts, Zero Acknowledgment — Trump Converts Historic Humiliation Into Triumphalist Counter-Narrative**

On the day he became the first former president to have a mugshot taken at Fulton County Jail, Trump flooded social media with over 60 posts — none acknowledging the historic booking itself. The evening before, he live-commented the GOP debate he skipped while boasting about his counter-programming Tucker Carlson interview approaching 100 million views. By afternoon, as the surrender approached, the tone sharpened with direct attacks on prosecutor Fani Willis and Atlanta's crime rate. The entire day was structured as a triumph narrative: arrest reframed as persecution, mugshot converted into merchandise, and over seven million dollars raised from the spectacle.

Full digest for 2023-08-24: https://trump.fm/date/2023-08-24/analysis

## Citation

- APA: Trump, D. J. (2023, August 24). RT: https://truthsocial.com/users/realDonaldTrump/... [Social media post]. Truth Social. trump.fm. https://trump.fm/post/ts_110941704180891810
- MLA: Trump, Donald J. "RT: https://truthsocial.com/users/realDonaldTrump/statuses/1..." Truth Social, 24 Aug. 2023. trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/ts_110941704180891810. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.
- Chicago: Donald J. Trump, "RT: https://truthsocial.com/users/realDonaldTrump/statuses/1...," Truth Social, August 24, 2023, archived at trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/ts_110941704180891810.

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