# Post x_936688444046266368

- Post ID: `x_936688444046266368`
- Platform: X (Twitter)
- Posted: 2017-12-01T20:08:22.000Z (UTC)
- Deleted: no
- Repost: no
- Canonical URL: https://trump.fm/post/x_936688444046266368
- Analysis page: https://trump.fm/post/x_936688444046266368/analysis
- Audio narration: https://static.trump.fm/audio/x_936688444046266368.mp3 (a synthesized voice reading the post text, not a recording)

## Post text

> The media has been speculating that I fired Rex Tillerson or that he would be leaving soon - FAKE NEWS! He’s not leaving and while we disagree on certain subjects, (I call the final shots) we work well together and America is highly respected again!
> https://t.co/FrqiPLFJ1E

## Engagement

- Likes: 88,187
- Reposts: 22,573
- Replies: 0
- Views: unknown
- Metrics collected: 2026-01-31T23:43:13.384Z (UTC)

# Analysis

_Machine-generated by trump.fm on 2026-03-12T02:21:30.377Z (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 psychologically notable for its structural self-contradiction: a message ostensibly defending Rex Tillerson that simultaneously subordinates him via the parenthetical "(I call the final shots)." This reveals a narcissistic leadership pattern where public loyalty displays must include dominance assertions. The post denies media reports that proved accurate—Tillerson was fired three months later—making the "FAKE NEWS" label a reality distortion rather than a correction. The claim of mutual respect contradicts contemporaneous reporting of significant dysfunction, including Tillerson allegedly calling Trump a "moron." The non-sequitur closer about America being "highly respected again" serves as gratuitous narcissistic supply unrelated to the Tillerson question. The trigger is narcissistic injury from exposure: media reports suggesting internal chaos threaten the image of competent leadership. Defense mechanisms include pathological denial and reaction formation. While not a high-intensity post, it documents a pattern of gaslighting through categorical denial of subsequently confirmed facts.

## Analysis: Rex Tillerson Defense Post (2017-12-01)

This post responds to media reports about Rex Tillerson's imminent departure as Secretary of State. Trump was likely in Washington, D.C. (post at ~3:08 PM ET), making this a business-hours post.

### Authorship
The post has a mixed quality—mostly coherent and structured but contains the parenthetical "(I call the final shots)" which is a distinctly Trumpian insertion into what might otherwise be an aide-drafted statement. The parenthetical breaks the diplomatic tone to assert dominance, suggesting either Trump dictated/edited an aide draft or wrote it himself during business hours.

### Psychological Dynamics
The parenthetical is the most revealing element. In a post ostensibly defending Tillerson, Trump cannot resist asserting hierarchical dominance. The denial pattern is notable: "He's not leaving" (Tillerson was in fact fired ~3 months later in March 2018, making this either a lie or a decision not yet made).

The closing claim "America is highly respected again!" is a gratuitous grandiose assertion unrelated to the Tillerson question, functioning as narcissistic supply.

### Defense Mechanisms
- **Denial**: Flatly denying media reports that proved accurate
- **Reaction formation**: Claiming a "work well together" relationship widely reported as dysfunctional (Tillerson allegedly called Trump a "moron")

### Rhetorical Techniques
- "FAKE NEWS" label to dismiss reporting
- Parenthetical power assertion embedded in conciliatory framing
- Non-sequitur grandiose closer

## Fact Verification

| Claim | Verdict | Evidence |
|-------|---------|----------|
| "America is highly respected again" | **Mostly False** | Pew Research Center surveys from 2017 showed significant declines in international confidence in U.S. leadership under Trump compared to Obama era |
| "He's not leaving" | **Mostly False** | Tillerson was fired via tweet on March 13, 2018, approximately 3 months later. Reports of tension were accurate. |

Overall Veracity: 20%

## Authorship Analysis

**Uncertain** (score: 55%)

### Indicators

- Business hours posting (~3 PM ET)
- Mostly coherent structure suggests aide involvement
- Parenthetical '(I call the final shots)' is distinctly Trump
- FAKE NEWS label is signature Trump
- Mixed polish level

## Psychological Profile

### State

**Grandiose State**

**Trigger:** Narcissistic Injury — Exposure (Media reports implying internal dysfunction/lack of control)

Sentiment: +0.15

### Clinical

**Malignant Narcissism:**
- Narcissistic: 60%
- Antisocial: 20%
- Paranoid: 20%
- Sadism: 5%

**Defense Mechanisms:**
- denial (pathological)
- reaction formation (neurotic)

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

**Parasocial Techniques:**
- asserting insider knowledge
- framing self as decisive leader

## Danger Assessment

**NONE**

### Gaslighting

- Dismissing accurate media reports as 'FAKE NEWS'
- Claiming strong working relationship contradicted by reporting

## Fact Checks (2)

_The model's verdicts from 2026-03-12._

> America is highly respected again

**MOSTLY FALSE**

Pew Research Center surveys from 2017 showed significant declines in international confidence in U.S. leadership under Trump compared to Obama era

Sources: Pew Global Attitudes surveys 2017

> He's not leaving

**MOSTLY FALSE**

Tillerson was fired via tweet on March 13, 2018, approximately 3 months later. Reports of tension were accurate.

Sources: Historical record

Overall Veracity: 20%

## Tags

- rex-tillerson (90%)
- fake-news (70%)
- denial (80%)
- dominance-display (70%)
- gaslighting (60%)

## That day

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

**Flynn Plea Goes Unmentioned as Trump Floods the Zone with Steinle Rage, Christmas, and Tax Boasting**

Trump spent the day conspicuously avoiding the biggest story -- Michael Flynn's guilty plea and cooperation deal with the Mueller investigation -- and instead filled his feed with a mix of Christmas messaging, economic chest-thumping, and escalating anger over the Kate Steinle verdict. The Steinle case clearly ate at him overnight; his morning posts were sharper and more distorted than his initial late-night reaction. An afternoon denial that Rex Tillerson was being pushed out proved to be false within three months, and the rest of the day was rounded out with optimistic tax reform cheerleading.

Full digest for 2017-12-01: https://trump.fm/date/2017-12-01/analysis

## Citation

- APA: Trump, D. J. (2017, December 1). The media has been speculating that I fired Rex... [Social media post]. X (Twitter). trump.fm. https://trump.fm/post/x_936688444046266368
- MLA: Trump, Donald J. "The media has been speculating that I fired Rex Tillerson..." X (Twitter), 1 Dec. 2017. trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/x_936688444046266368. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.
- Chicago: Donald J. Trump, "The media has been speculating that I fired Rex Tillerson...," X (Twitter), December 1, 2017, archived at trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/x_936688444046266368.

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