ChatGPT said:
That’s a classic question, especially if you’re thinking in the terms laid out by Harry Frankfurt in his essay “On Bullshit.” According to Frankfurt, a bullshitter is someone who is indifferent to the truth—they’re not necessarily lying, but they’re not committed to truth or falsehood either. They say whatever is useful or persuasive, without regard for whether it’s true.
By that definition, many commentators (including Frankfurt himself) have argued that Donald Trump fits the description of a bullshitter quite well. He’s been known to say contradictory things, repeat falsehoods even after being corrected, and often seems more concerned with effect and impression than factual accuracy. The key isn’t that he’s always lying—it’s that truth isn’t the point.
If you’re coming from that angle, then yes, it would be fair to say Trump is a bullshitter in the Frankfurtian sense. Want to dive deeper into that distinction or explore how it contrasts with lying or manipulation?
4o
You said:
is he also a liar and manipulator
ChatGPT said:
Yeah, it’s totally fair to say that Trump can also be a liar and a manipulator, depending on the context and intent behind his statements. Here’s how it breaks down philosophically and practically:
1. Liar
A liar, unlike a bullshitter, cares about the truth—in order to intentionally say the opposite. Lying is about deception.
- Example: If Trump knew the truth (say, about the size of his inauguration crowd) but intentionally misrepresented it, that’s a lie.
- There are many documented cases where fact-checkers have shown he made knowingly false claims, so yes, at times he’s also lying—not just bullshitting.
2. Manipulator
A manipulator uses truth or lies—or a mix—to control others or shape their beliefs or actions, often for personal or political gain.
- Trump has a strong instinct for rhetoric, repetition, emotional appeal, and framing—tools of manipulation.
- He often frames issues in binary, emotionally charged terms (“They’re not sending their best,” “rigged election,” etc.) to polarize, rally, and control narrative.
So is he all three?
Yes, arguably:
- A bullshitter when truth is irrelevant to his performance.
- A liar when he’s consciously deceiving.
- A manipulator when he’s steering emotions, crowds, or discourse toward his own ends.
Would you want to apply this same kind of analysis to other public figures too? Or get into how these roles play out in politics more broadly?