I’m a consultant psychiatrist: These are the FIVE mistakes Zelensky made with Donald Trump

The bell may have been rung on an extraordinary bout in the Oval Office between and but was this a knock-out or will there be a re-match? The blood on the floor of the Oval Office suggests that out for the count may be any imminent global stability. The whole world is now asking, ‘How did it happen? Indeed, how could it happen?’ And if this isa sign of exactly how unpredictable and turbulent international politics is going to be from now on? To truly understand, I believe my experience as a psychiatrist, in decoding livid interactions between warring couples, and families, in the clinic, becomes essential.

Civilians, outside the profession, have been left reeling at just how quickly the emotional temperature got out of control in the normally calm Oval Office. To a clinician, there were always hidden psychological sparks that ignited this fire, which then consumed a ceasefire deal in just minutes – and may also have now destroyed key alliances between nations that had endured over years and many billions of dollars. To grasp exactly what has transformed history, you need to perceive what was already embedded deep inside the burning embers buried within the already difficult personalities in the room.

There were times the angry interchanges, including when Vice-President JD Vance waded in, more resembled a warring family session, a hostile couples counselling consultation, or even a tense group therapy confrontation, than White House diplomacy between world leaders. At times, I wondered, is this the Oval Office, or an out-patient department? While many commentators have been quick to take the side of President Zelensky, attacking Trump and Vance as some kind of wrestling ‘tag’ team, who took turns to humiliate the visiting guest,my reading of the room is that it was Zelensky who psychologically started the fight.

An early indication of the seething emotion lying beneath the surface may have emerged in some early banter about why the Ukrainian leader had turned up not wearing a suit. He looked as ever like someone who had just come from a war zone. But wait… he had. Part of Zelensky’s relentless psychological strategy is to bank heavily on this sense of crisis he conveys even with his military dress code, which challenges diplomatic convention.

Trump probably doesn’t like these challenges, as any narcissistic personality type, he can see through the psychological manipulation involved, and it probably annoys him even more as a result. So, if Zelensky thought his usual tactics were going to buy him any emotional capital, he was mistaken. Indeed, this presumption had probably already annoyed the complex character that is . Zelensky never seemed to grasp that there was a new sheriff in town, and therefore new rules, including never confronting the top dog. Yet challenge is precisely what this Ukrainian leader did, and he reaped the reward of what psychiatrists refer to as a clinical condition known amongst therapists as ‘Narcissistic Rage’.

‘Narcissistic Rage’ is an explosive mix of fury and hostility and, unless you have seen it in the clinic, as I have as a psychiatrist, it’s difficult to grasp that this cocktail of toxic emotion erupts apparently from nowhere. But instead it actually derives from a sense of threats to the grandiose belief in self in the hyper-sensitive owners of a magnificent ego. It is not part of the culture of to consider including a psychological expert in any diplomatic mission. But it would’ve helped in my view.

Any briefing, as the one that Kier Starmer probably got, would emphasize vanity, self-absorption, arrogance, and entitlement as key personality characteristics to be aware of and handle gingerly. You don’t need to be Sigmund Freud to analyse that the current resident of the White House is overly invested in their self-image, obsessed with how they are viewed by others, frequently dismissive of others’ needs and wants, particularly to the extent they interfere with one’s own. They need to be approached the way any bomb disposal expert warily advances towards any unexploded device. Yet Zelensky turned up and breezily appeared to want to juggle with grenades.

When dealing with this personality type, you never challenge them over anything, even when it’s obvious their reasoning is clearly off kilter, and makes no sense. Zelensky clearly and rightly felt it was obvious you can’t do a deal with Putin. But you have got to grasp, to the author of The Art of the Deal, it always makes perfect sense to think they can magic up an agreement when no one else could before. In casting doubt on what diplomacy could be possible, Zelensky was juggling with emotional fire in a way he just doesn’t seem to have grasped. He was telling a narcissist there was something they couldn’t do.

Zelensky’s other error was to not understand that all those who had died to defend his country had suddenly become irrelevant, instead he was now dealing with the only person in the room that matters. This required a big mental gear change from the Ukrainian and we could all see the trouble he was having, grinding the new gears. To a psychiatrist, it seemed obvious Zelensky hadn’t been properly briefed on the psychological predicament anyone faces when in a room with . The Ukrainian leader began to fidget and scowl, albeit silently, trying to contain himself as the meeting went on, yet increasingly impatient and frustrated at what he was hearing.

An early spark came when one of the press apparently asked a question concerning the future of any deal with , given some of the mineral resources the US covets in any future ‘deal’, might appear to be within geographical areas captured already by Putin. Zelensky appeared at this moment to mutter under his breath: “That is a very good question.” This was a massive psychological and tactical blunder because, even if there is any illogicality or contradiction in whatever any narcissist is proposing, your job is to smile, nod and agree and even express wonder at the extent of the assistance.

Trump indeed responded: “The problem is I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy, I don’t think you would be a tough guy without the United States.” He then added: “You’re not acting at all thankful and that is not a nice thing.” Whatever you do, don’t get the top dog to have to prove he is top dog to you, just roll over and play agreeable, or you will get your head bitten off.

Zelensky was also clearly wrestling with his own psychological demons, including a mounting sense of panic that deals were going on behind the scenes and he and his people were being left behind. He challenged JD Vance on how anyone could reach any agreement with Putin when the Russian dictator had reversed out of all previous pacts. As Zelensky attempted to explain, with evidence from deals going back to 2014, Trump interrupted and questioned whether it was 2015, but when Zelensky repeated it was 2014, Trump commented that he wasn’t in the White House then. This was a big hint Zelensky didn’t pick up on, indeed he never cottoned on to any of the psychological hints that every conversation is really about Trump.

It is in these asides that more psychological meaning is embedded, and you need to read them correctly as to what the emotional undercurrents are in order to safely navigate these choppy political seas. Zelensky has compounded his clinical naivety by promptly appearing in a prior scheduled televised interview, where he refused to apologise for what happened, despite being invited to repeatedly.

The issue of course is not whether Zelensky is in the right or the wrong. The real conundrum is how to play the role of the deferential, grateful submissive courtier and, through this patient manipulation, eventually get your way with Trump. What else has been revealed here is that Zelensky has now exposed that he is panicked, he is running out of time, and this explains his mishandling of the longer game.

You don’t need to be in the White House inner circle to understand basic office politics; that your boss probably needs to feel they are in charge. Some bosses need their egos to be constantly massaged. Zelensky has been defiant to one autocrat across the border, so perhaps it never dawned on the Ukrainian leader just how closer psychologically Trump might be to the Russian leader?

may be sitting smug right now because he thinks he dodged a bullet by fawningly handing up an invitation to the King. This was his big move. Unfortunately, his grasp of the psychology of the situation may also, in my opinion, have been found wanting and the President of the US may also now feel betrayed by Sir Keir hastily rushing to support the Ukrainian leader at this fragile moment.

Loyalty is key to understanding Trump. Because if you do need reminding who is the real boss, that reminder will come in the psychological equivalent of an artillery bombardment, so get your hard hats on, and take cover.

• Dr Raj Persaud is a consultant psychiatrist based in Harley Street and author of The Mental Vaccine for -19’ (Amberley Publishing)