I asked Google “Why does President Trump applaud himself?” Some of Google’s AI Overview was as follows:

—“Prompting the audience…

—“Self-Adulation…

—“Joining in with the audience…

—“Excitement or Stress Relief…

—“Performance and Style…

“Ultimately, the exact motivation remains speculative, as Trump has not provided a definitive explanation for the behavior, which is widely considered unusual for a head of state.”

Comment: What do you think?

Added the next day: President Donald Trump’s signature: Has it changed over the years, which might suggest changes in personality? I have not been able to get a clear and consistent answer.

 "Book of Lives, a Memoir of Sorts” by Margaret Atwood, a Writer's Multiplicity (post 2): 

“There’s a set of emotions familiar to anyone who has been the victim of a con artist. First, anger at the perpetrators. Why have they been so mean? But also anger at oneself: Why have you been so stupid? You ought to have figured it out sooner. Also again: Being conned has been a violation of your trust, and trust is a thing you will never extend so easily again. Possibly, you will never entirely trust anyone. You will be endlessly wondering about hidden motives and secret agendas. You will know that there are likely to be at least two stories: the one you’re being told, and the other one.

You might become a detective. You might become a con artist yourself. Or, a blend of the two: you might become a novelist” (1, pp. 74-75). 

Comment: Also search my old past posts on Margaret Atwood in this blog in which she previously acknowledged the multiplicity of novelists.

1. Margaret Atwood. Book of Lives, a Memoir of Sorts. New York, Doubleday, 2025, 599 pages.