US4 min(s) read
Published 15:40 07 Apr 2026 GMT
Psychologist reveals alarming message Trump hid in threats to Iran
A psychologist has shared that Donald Trump’s Iran threats carry a hidden message.
On Tuesday (March 7), the 79-year-old president shared on Truth Social that a "whole civilization will die tonight" if no agreement is reached between the US and Iran.
"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will," he wrote. "However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?
"We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!" he added.
Trump's White House
His post comes hours after he gave a speech at the White House, where he threatened that Iran "could be taken out in one night, and that night could be tomorrow night".
He also warned them to open the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route through which around 20% of the world’s oil supply passes, and demanded an "acceptable" deal by 20:00 Washington DC time on Tuesday (April 7).
Trump then added that if the deadline is missed, Iran could effectively be pushed back to the "Stone Ages".
"They're going to have no bridges," he said. "They're going to have no power plants."
Psychologist Speaks Out
According to clinical psychologist Dr Tracy King, Trump’s language is doing more than issuing threats.
She said his speech was filled with "military drama, triumph, punishment, and command," and argued that his use of extreme phrasing is calculated.
"That matters because repeated extreme language changes how people take things in. It reduces the room for proportion. It narrows the space for critical thought. It pushes people towards awe, fear, excitement or alarm before they have had time to weigh anything calmly," she said, per The Mirror.
Dr King also noted how Trump repeatedly put the focus back on himself, even when discussing military operations.
"Even though the speech is about the rescue and the bravery of others, it keeps coming back towards him. What he watched. What impressed him. What he thought. What he valued. What he will do. So the speech is not just about military success, but it also puts him back at the centre of events," she said.
She suggested this may be linked to how the president wants to be perceived: "It works as a restoration of status. If he feared rumours had briefly made him look weak, absent or physically vulnerable, the speech answers that by placing him in the middle of power, action and command.
"To the American public, the message seems to be: do not see me as weak, absent or diminished. See me as the man at the centre of force, rescue, retaliation and control," she added.
The psychologist shared that she believes the president's tone may be designed to keep his opponents guessing.
"To those he is at war with, the message is harsher. It says uncertainty is part of the strategy. He can hold back, create confusion, and then hit hard," she said. "He appears to want to be felt as unpredictable, forceful and willing to escalate. That is psychologically useful in war because it keeps opponents guessing and makes them worry not only about military power, but about his threshold for using it."
Iran Responds To Trump's Statement With Stark Warning
Iran has rejected diplomatic proposals and signaled it is prepared for a prolonged conflict.
In response, an Iranian military spokesperson warned: "Should the USA proceed with its threats concerning Iran’s power plant facilities, the following retaliatory measures shall be promptly enacted.
"All power plants, energy infrastructure, and information and communications technology of the Zionist regime, and all similar companies within the region that have American shareholders, shall face complete and utter annihilation," they added.