# Post x_825690087857995776

- Post ID: `x_825690087857995776`
- Platform: X (Twitter)
- Posted: 2017-01-29T13:00:32.000Z (UTC)
- Deleted: no
- Repost: no
- Canonical URL: https://trump.fm/post/x_825690087857995776
- Analysis page: https://trump.fm/post/x_825690087857995776/analysis
- Audio narration: https://static.trump.fm/audio/x_825690087857995776.mp3 (a synthesized voice reading the post text, not a recording)

## Post text

> Somebody with aptitude and conviction should buy the FAKE NEWS and failing @nytimes and either run it correctly or let it fold with dignity!

## Engagement

- Likes: 111,984
- Reposts: 22,256
- Replies: 0
- Views: unknown
- Metrics collected: 2026-01-31T23:43:13.392Z (UTC)

# Analysis

_Machine-generated by trump.fm on 2026-03-11T09:20:30.699Z (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 represents a notable escalation in Trump's anti-press rhetoric during his first week as president. Moving beyond his prior day's complaints about NYT coverage, he now fantasizes about someone acquiring the institution and either forcing compliance ("run it correctly") or overseeing its destruction ("fold with dignity"). The false dichotomy is psychologically revealing: "correctly" means favorably, exposing a schema where press independence equals institutional failure. The timing—amid massive protests against the travel ban and intensifying media scrutiny—suggests narcissistic injury as the primary trigger. The "FAKE NEWS" branding, which Trump was actively establishing as a rhetorical weapon, serves to delegitimize institutional scrutiny. The factual claim of "failing" is demonstrably false; the NYT was experiencing record subscription growth. The post merits attention for its eliminationist framing toward a democratic institution—not violent, but structurally authoritarian in its logic that critical media should be acquired into compliance or allowed to die.

## Psychological Analysis: "Buy the FAKE NEWS" Post (2017-01-29)

### Context
Posted at 8:00 AM EST (Trump was at the White House during his first full week as president). This follows two posts the previous day attacking the NYT and Washington Post. The travel ban had just been signed, sparking massive protests and intense media criticism.

### Authorship
Early morning Sunday post with characteristic Trump markers: ALL CAPS emphasis ("FAKE NEWS"), emotional reactivity, stream-of-consciousness quality, and the signature "failing @nytimes" branding. High confidence authentic.

### Psychological Analysis
This post is a fascinating escalation from criticism to a fantasy of control. Rather than merely attacking the NYT's coverage, Trump envisions someone acquiring the institution and either making it compliant ("run it correctly") or destroying it ("let it fold with dignity"). The framing reveals a power/control schema: media criticism is not a feature of democracy but a malfunction to be corrected through ownership.

The phrase "with dignity" is notable—it frames the NYT's continued independent existence as undignified, inverting reality where a free press is a democratic norm. The false dichotomy (comply or die) is a classic dominance display.

### Trigger
Narcissistic injury from intensifying media criticism of the travel ban. The previous day's posts show escalating grievance against NYT/WaPo, and this post represents the culmination—moving from complaint to eliminationist fantasy.

### Defense Mechanisms
- **Devaluation**: "failing," "FAKE NEWS" reduce the NYT's legitimacy
- **Projection**: Attributes dishonesty/failure to the institution scrutinizing him
- **Acting out**: Direct expression of hostile impulse (desire to see institution destroyed or subjugated)

## Fact Verification

| Claim | Verdict | Evidence |
|-------|---------|----------|
| "NYT is failing" | **False** | NYT was experiencing a major subscription surge in early 2017, gaining hundreds of thousands of digital subscribers post-election—the opposite of failing. |

Overall Veracity: 0%

## Authorship Analysis

**Self-Written** (score: 90%)

### Indicators

- ALL CAPS 'FAKE NEWS'
- signature 'failing @nytimes' branding
- 8 AM Sunday morning timing
- emotional/reactive tone
- stream-of-consciousness quality

## Psychological Profile

### State

**Grandiose State**

**Trigger:** Narcissistic Injury — Criticism (NYT/media criticism of travel ban and early presidency)

**Rage:** Intensity 60% targeting New York Times
- Proportionality: 30%

Sentiment: -0.70

### Clinical

**Malignant Narcissism:**
- Narcissistic: 70%
- Antisocial: 40%
- Paranoid: 30%
- Sadism: 30%

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

**Cognitive Complexity:**
- Complexity: 50%

**Parasocial Techniques:**
- shared grievance against media
- positioning audience as co-victims of dishonest press

## Danger Assessment

**ELEVATED**

### Indicators

- Frames independent press as illegitimate institution deserving destruction
- False dichotomy: comply or cease to exist
- Part of escalating pattern against specific media institutions

### Gaslighting

- 'FAKE NEWS' label delegitimizes factual reporting
- Implies NYT coverage is objectively wrong rather than critical

## Fact Checks (1)

_The model's verdicts from 2026-03-11._

> NYT is failing

**FALSE**

NYT was experiencing a major subscription surge in early 2017, gaining hundreds of thousands of digital subscribers post-election—the opposite of failing.

Sources: NYT Q4 2016 earnings reports; widespread reporting on Trump-bump subscriptions

Overall Veracity: 0%

## Tags

- anti-press (100%)
- NYT (90%)
- eliminationist framing (70%)
- narcissistic injury response (80%)
- travel ban backlash (60%)

## That day

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

**Under Siege on Travel Ban, Trump Lashes Out at Media and Fellow Republicans**

Trump spent the day defending his controversial travel ban from multiple directions as airport protests raged nationwide. The morning opened with an attack on the New York Times, fantasizing about someone buying the paper and shutting it down, before pivoting to justify the ban by citing dangers in Europe and persecuted Christians. In the afternoon he turned fire on fellow Republicans McCain and Graham for criticizing the executive order, accusing them of trying to start World War III. The day wound down with an official statement and a TV interview plug — a combative but controlled performance without any real spiral.

Full digest for 2017-01-29: https://trump.fm/date/2017-01-29/analysis

## Citation

- APA: Trump, D. J. (2017, January 29). Somebody with aptitude and conviction should buy... [Social media post]. X (Twitter). trump.fm. https://trump.fm/post/x_825690087857995776
- MLA: Trump, Donald J. "Somebody with aptitude and conviction should buy the FAKE..." X (Twitter), 29 Jan. 2017. trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/x_825690087857995776. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.
- Chicago: Donald J. Trump, "Somebody with aptitude and conviction should buy the FAKE...," X (Twitter), January 29, 2017, archived at trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/x_825690087857995776.

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