President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, signed on July 24, 2025, aims to address the mental health crisis in America by directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to facilitate the civil commitment of individuals with severe mental illness, addiction, or homelessness. The policy seeks to reverse decades-old court rulings and consent decrees that have restricted involuntary institutionalization, arguing that such measures will restore public order by moving those with severe mental health issues into long-term treatment facilities. Supporters, like @yhazony on X, frame this as a compassionate reversal of liberal policies that left mentally ill individuals on the streets, emphasizing the need for structured care for those unable to function independently. The order reflects Trump’s broader law-and-order approach, prioritizing public safety and institutional solutions over community-based care, which critics argue has failed to address the growing visibility of untreated mental illness in urban areas.

However, the policy has sparked significant controversy, with critics on X, such as @VetPathVampire and @java_junkie34, warning that it risks mass institutionalization without adequate infrastructure, potentially leading to human rights abuses and the “disappearance” of vulnerable populations. The executive order’s broad scope, which includes those with mental health diagnoses, substance abuse issues, or homelessness, could theoretically encompass a wide range of individuals, including those labeled with politically charged terms like “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS). While TDS is not a recognized clinical diagnosis, a 2025 Minnesota bill introduced by Republican senators attempted to classify it as a mental illness, defining it as “acute onset of paranoia” in response to Trump’s policies, with symptoms like “verbal hostility” or “aggression” toward his supporters. Although the bill failed due to Minnesota’s split legislature, it highlights how political rhetoric could intersect with mental health policy, raising concerns about the potential misuse of civil commitment to target dissent under the guise of mental health intervention.

Looking forward, the expansion of civil commitment could theoretically pave the way for addressing extreme behaviors associated with phenomena like TDS, though this remains speculative and fraught with ethical concerns. The Minnesota bill’s failure and the American Psychiatric Association’s rejection of TDS as a legitimate diagnosis underscore the risks of politicizing mental health care. Critics argue that Trump’s policy, while aimed at helping those with severe mental illness, lacks plans for expanding treatment facilities or ensuring due process, potentially leading to overreach. Posts on X, like those from @chrisw_ottawa, express alarm that the policy could revive eugenics-like practices, while others, like @TonySeruga, note the White House’s intent to prioritize long-term institutionalization. For “lost souls” exhibiting extreme reactions to Trump’s presidency, any future inclusion under such policies would require rigorous clinical justification to avoid weaponizing mental health laws against political opponents, a concern heightened by the TDS rhetoric.